ClearFlite Air Purifiers -  Newsletters - Volume I

Product Spotlight – the Blueair 601

Several years ago before we began selling Blueair air purifiers, we received occasional calls from people looking for a newly imported product from Sweden called a “Blueair” made by a European company that declared “Clean Air was a Human Right!” Intrigued, we began studying Blueair, talking to people who owned them, and finally meeting with the Swedish company's U.S. team. We ramped up slowly, tested the products, and soon became firm believers in the effectiveness of Blueair products, even though they tend to be on the quiet side. Quiet, though it may be considered by many a virtue, is not a good thing if it means the air purifier is not actually doing any work (S.I.'s Ionic Breeze comes quickly to mind). Blueair's design team incorporated noise reduction in the basic design of its models rather than trying to add sound dampening afterwards.

The Blueair 501 has been a staple of the ClearFlite line for a long time, particularly appealing to our business customers who often use it in executive offices. We were very happy to hear of the advent of a more powerful model: the Blueair 601 which added an extra 179 square feet to the room cleaning size of the 501 making the 601 capable of cleaning a total of 679 square feet with six changes per hour. That means a large Family Room nearly 20 x 35 feet could be effectively and quietly cleaned.

Part of our determination of whether or not a product is a keeper is by the number of returns we get. Returns of Blueair products, especially the 601 are very rare. The combination of the filter media Blueair has chosen combined with the encapsulated (that means closed up inside the machine) ion particle charging chamber makes the 601 a truly effective air purifier.

The bacteria-resistant, waterproof polypropylene filters and the activated carbon (for odors and chemicals) integrated in the filters also make it a winner for ClearFlite.

On the lower speeds, the Blueair is astonishingly quiet yet still working. The higher speeds though not “noisy” do make a blowing sound but the flexibility of having three speeds means you can run the unit on high when you're away and on low when you're present. The Blueair 601 is a great product worth the investment and that's why we salute it and the team at Blueair in this month's Product Spotlight. Blueair 601 Air Purifiers

Understanding the Difference Between Dust and Dust Mites

If you are an allergy sufferer, you may have been told by some people that you're allergic to dust and by others that you're allergic to dust mites. You may have wondered about the different kinds of dust and whether some might cause allergic reaction while others do not. The reality is that the range of sizes of dust and their potential irritation varies greatly depending upon the source of the dust, composition of the dust, and your geographical location.

Dust from the atmosphere that is heavy and settles quickly may not be problematic for you because the cilia (tiny hairs) in your nose and sinuses tends to catch this type of dust before it enters the lungs. However, the so-called “dust bunnies” in your house or office are generally more than simply dust. They are most likely a combination of irritants including dust mites, dust mite fecal matter, fibers, hair, shed skin cells, mold spores, pollen, bacteria, and pet dander in you own pets. In metropolitan areas, dust in the home may contain particles of smoke and soot from the atmosphere.

Many allergy and asthma physicians will specify that “dust mites” might be leading to the allergy symptoms. Dust mites are microscopic “mites” or nest-building insect-like creatures that thrive, unfortunately, on discarded skin cells in damp, dark places like the beds of human beings. It's actually the enzymes in their fecal matter that trigger allergy symptoms, and for such small creatures they have a lot of droppings, about 20 per day for each mite. Because they dwell in places that move a lot – cushions, mattresses, pillows, carpets, etc. - due to human use, they easily become airborne. Thus the application of room air purifiers in controlling allergic reactions to dust mites.

In summary, there are innumerable kinds of dust, but it's most likely the “dust mite” that should be one of your major concerns in allergy and asthma relief.


Air Purifiers for Rich People!

At ClearFlite, we often receive calls from customers who immediately state that they simply want the best air purifiers available and that money is no object. Although those callers are dream customers, we always hesitate in answering. Years of experience have taught us that the best air purifier money can buy is not always a particular brand but the one that will meet their needs and solve their problem. Consider the purchase of a car when money is no object. Both the Rolls-Royce and the Lamborghini are some of the finest cars money can buy, but they certainly meet different needs. Until we understand a little more about the problem our customer is trying to solve, and personal issues such as sensitivity to sound, availability of time to maintain an air purifier, and expected usage, we can't honestly recommend what would be best. When it comes to adding a new appliance to the home, and that's essentially what an air purifier is, even design and color issues are to be considered.

Even though money may not be a consideration, these things usually are:

1. What do you need to have removed from the airflow (biological things such as mold, or particulates such as smoke, or gases and odors, for example).

2. Do you have the time to wash filters that require it or do you want something you can turn on and forget?

3. Are you expecting an air purifier that cleans silently or are you willing to have some sound if it affects the unit's ability to clean?

4. What is the size of the area in which you wish to clean the indoors?

There are certainly other considerations but these are instrumental in finding the right air purifier for your home or workplace regardless of your budget. ClearFlite's purification specialists have lots more questions that can help you find the right unit for your needs.


Product Pricing Issues

If you have searched a lot of websites looking for a room air purifier, you may have noticed that most of the major dealers have pricing which varies only by a few cents. Why is this? Most manufacturers have what's called MAP pricing which stands for minimum advertised price. That's the lowest price an authorized internet dealer can publish on a website for the products the manufacturer sells to its dealers. It's the way the manufacturer keeps the playing field level for its dealers. MAP pricing does not mean that the published price is the lowest price that dealers can sell the product for, it merely refers to the price published on the dealer's website. Callers may obtain price discounts on selected items which are not available to persons who purchase online. ClearFlite also has a Loyalty Discount which is given to customers after the first purchase.

The manufacturers of quality air purifiers also require their dealers to be “authorized” which often means they must meet particular standards of quality in sales and customer service. To maintain its authorized status, a company must abide by the manufacturer's MAP pricing controls. Companies that publish prices below the MAP prices may have lost their authorization and may be trying to clear out inventory. Purchasing from such companies may save you a few dollars initially but cause you headaches later by not being available when you have questions, need help, or realize in a panic that your filters need to be changed a.s.a.p. ClearFlite specializes in room air purifiers, has been in business since 1990 and selling online since 1996, and takes its authorization seriously.

Austin Air Purifier Prices Going UP!

No manufacturer has held back price increases longer than our great partner, Austin Air Purifier. We love our American-made Austin Air purifiers because they're such workhorses and require so little maintenance or upkeep. We've had customers call in a panic saying “my Austin has been going non-stop for 8 years and I just realized I should probably change the filter!” But even Austin Air Purifier has finally decided that it is time to raise prices slightly. If you're leaning toward an Austin Air purifier or will need filter replacements this summer, buy soon! Prices go up July 1, 2005. ClearFlite looks forward to many more years as an authorized Austin Air Dealer. Order today at Austin Air Purifier

Summertime Dilemmas: Air Conditioners, Air Purifiers & Open Windows

Summertime poses a variety of problems for people who want to breathe clean air. Many people want to clean out their houses by opening them up to the great outdoors. Others want to run their air conditioning but are concerned about its effect on their room air purifiers and vice-versa. Each family will have to determine what will work best in their household but ClearFlite does offer some general guidelines:

If you open the window more than a couple of inches, it might be best to turn your air purifier off while it is open, especially if you have HEPA purifiers. You'll fill those filters up more quickly by trying to purify Mother Nature (best to contact our friends in Washington D.C. for that request). It doesn't matter so much, economically, if you have a Friedrich model with washable filters. Thy effectiveness of the air purifier will be reduced with open windows. That's not to say you shouldn't do it. By all means, clean out your house and enjoy it, but when you're done, turn you air purifiers on high and let them clean up the pollens that you have invited in.

It is recommended that you run your air purifiers while your central air conditioning or even window A.C. units are running. The air conditioning will stir up all kinds of pollutants which your air purifiers can remove. Plus you're circulating cleaned air through your system. Some central air conditioning systems do or can include electrostatic filters to help with dust. You might contact your system's manufacturer to get them placed on your system. They'll help keep the dust down so your room air purifiers can concentrate on the smaller particulate, pollens, mold spores, etc..


Allerair UV – An Extra Line of Defense

For our customers who are looking for the extra protection that ultraviolet light can give them, ClearFlite has added the powerful Allerair line of air purifiers. Some Allerair models include an ultraviolet lamp which is capable of sterilizing airborne pathogens and neutralizing bacteria and the mycotoxins caused by mold. The airflow actually passes by a 10 watt germicidal lamp that will destroy the DNA in organisms like bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.

The Exec UV models in the Allerair 4000, 5000, and 6000 series have the optional UV lighting available. You can see them by clicking on this link: Allerair The Allerair line offers a lot of different solutions, so always feel free to call ClearFlite toll-free at 800.497.8263 for clarification on what might work best for you.
 

Terri M. Zajac
President
ClearFlite Air Purifiers