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Question: do you ever have to replace the foam pre-filter/hepa filter or will cleaning them last the life of the machine? is it ok to wash hepa w/ water/soap?
Document: average Hepa Machine, with a "Lifetime" filter. Well I had to buya New lifetime filter from their website, my filter was dirty so I followedthe recommended way of cleaning it, the filter started to come apart on the corner.Then the whole bottom of the filter lost its bond. So I had to replace it.
I don't run the ionizer, which seems unnecessary to me anyway, since it has HEPA filtration. There is also a small LED "nightlight" that can be switched on while the unit is running.The washable pre-filter is open cell foam and the main filter is a fabric HEPA with a rubber gasket. If you need something to reduce odors, what I did was replace the pre-filter with the activated charcoal filter that most air cleaners use as pre-filters.
It does include an ozone generator, which I find does help mask or eliminate odors. The HEPA filter is permanent, although it can be removed for cleaning. The pre-fiter is a foam pad that must be removed from time-to-time for cleaning, and the HEPA filter can be vacuumed although not washed.Basically, the unit just isn't powerful enough to me, not enough to clean what I consider a small room, unless the room's door is closed and has been running for some time.
Just received this machine from Amazon and it appears to be similar to many of this type; namely, a foam pre-filter and the usual paper finned "HEPA" filter. Expect it to perform similarly. Just for those who care - it is quiet - meaning the motor is not particularly noisy - but not "silent" like the Oreck and more expensive machines. So if you are looking for a truly silent machine this is not it.
The ionizer really helps with odors. My husband's office has a lot of paint, ink, and marker odors, and the unit effectively takes care of them. Since our larger Honeywell units don't do a thing for odors, we're about to replace those big expensive units with a couple of these smaller tabletop ones. However, the red light for cleaning the filter came on last month and, despite being cleaned twice, it will not go off.
I was told by my doctor that I needed to purchase an air purifier for my home. I was a little apprehensive about spending the money for a big one so I settled on purchasing 2 small ones that I can move around from room to room. These work great and are not loud. You don't need to buy a filter when it tells you too, you can wash it with water which is a plus as I heard a air purifier that requires a filter to be changed can be quite expensive.
It really isn't very noticeable after several minutes of use on the Low and Medium settings. It kinda blends into the surroundings and completely out of mind.It has a pre-filter . . . A cleanable foam filter to catch larger contaminants.It has a HEPA filter ... A cleanable filter to catch smallest of contaminants and allergens.It has a Ionizer . . .
that this unit replaced) and just cut out the size I needed using the foam filter as a template. It seems to work better at reducing pet odor, and dander. When dirty, it can be disposed of and replaced with another one cut from the universal pre-filter (I figure I will get about 8 from it -for around $10).
works, but you cant be near it because of the intense magnetic field generated by the shaded pole motor. And the filter clogs quick and should be torn out and felt and foam taped around the filter cartridge instead. 1 layer of felt, and window air conditioner foam pre-filter stuffed in the grill. The burning smell is from the motor straining with a clogged filter.
it works ok. everything execpt the hepa filter is kinda a joke, but it does what it they said it would do. i think i need to upgrade.
Answer: My understanding is that the pre-filter can be easily washed, but the HEPA filter should never be washed.  You will ruin the HEPA permanent filter by washing it.   It can be vacuumed, or just shaken out.  Because the pre-filter does a lot of work, the HEPA filter doesn't get very dirty anyway.