Honeywell 18155 SilentComfort Permanent, True HEPA Air Purifier
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Honeywell 18155 SilentComfort Permanent, True HEPA Air Purifier
Customer Review: Good for a small bedroom. Lots of pros and cons.
Summary: 4 Stars
First of all, I have to chuckle about the person that found 'packing material' in their filter and broke it all apart.
The motor housing is made of styrofoam, in an effort to quiet the motor and blower wheel. Don't take it apart and take out the 'packing material' out of it, it's supposed to be there.
Also, the styrofoam is porous, so, don't let it get wet inside, or it can actually be a source of mold, mildew, and musty smells. It may also retain odors like dog, cat, smoke, etc in this styrofoam if you get it used, or sell it. Replacing the hepa filter or pre-filter may not be enough.
Also, it's pretty poor at dealing with odors, as the carbon pre-filter is much smaller, and the air doesn't spend very long in the carbon part of it, so it's just not that effective. Just the way it is. You can help it out by wrapping the pre-filter around the HEPA filter, and think of it as a post filter. This won't get dusty, because the air gets blown through the filter from the inside out, so the dust is trapped in the inside of the filter, rather than the outside, like most round filters.
Air spends more time in the post-filter as the air leaves the filter evenly, and on low it actually works pretty well as absorbing odors if used this way. If you want to be frugal, you can re-use the 'post' filter as a pre-filter if you cut it down to size.
Just make sure you have a pre-filter installed in the bottom as well (And don't use the dusty pre-filter as a post filter, or you'll re-pollute your filtered air.), as without the pre-filter properly installed, the HEPA filter won't last long. It's designed to 'chirp' when the HEPA filter needs cleaning or replacing, as the fluctuations caused by the plugged filter will make the styrofoam motor housing rub against the blower wheel, eventually damaging it. If you don't install a pre-filter in the bottom this will happen very quickly, and the unit will basically just annoy you rather than filter any air.
If you keep the pre-filter clean, and keep it on low in your bedroom, it will keep the dust from getting too bad.
It's really quiet, as the HEPA filter acts like a muffler, and the motor housing is made of sound absorbing material.
I'd vacuum the HEPA filter with your HEPA vacuum every time you change the pre-filter.
I can see why they designed it like this, but I can also see the downsides.
If you want a filter that's QUIET and doesn't disturb the air a lot, this a good choice.
It's not good for entryways, pool/spa rooms, pet rooms, living rooms, for use as a fan, or a smoke-eater.
It's for bedrooms.
If you like to have air blowing on you as you sleep, pick the 17005 instead (It makes more noise, but moves all it's exhaust in one direction.), or better yet, have the 17005 on a nightstand on low 24/7 blowing on your pillow, and have it moving air in the direction of a 18155, so the 17005 can provide fresh air for you as you sleep, and the 18155 keeps the dust down so you don't have to vacuum as often. Yes, I have 2 HEPA filters in my bedroom. 2 on low are MUCH quieter and more effective than 1 on high. The 17005 also has a timer and remote- built right in.
The 18155 is much quieter than the old round style 11520, and work just as well for dust and allergies.
The old venerable 11520 is much more durable, but really loud on high, and didn't move much air on low.
I bet the 18155 is quieter on high than the old 11520 is on low.
Customer Review: Good for allergies
Summary: 5 Stars
As other have said, the first day you run it, you will get a wierd smell, be prepared. But after that it's great. During the time I am not in the room I run it on high, when I sleep I run it on low.
I have 2 dogs, and all of us have allergies, and this has helped.
Customer Review: Good for the money.
Summary: 5 Stars
This unit is quiet when running on the low setting; high is rather loud. Even though it's not a high-end model it does the job it's supposed to. When I removed the pre-filter there was more hair on it than on my cat and lots of dust. I recently had a very smokey kitchen from a pan fire and it helped with clearing the room. I like this unit a lot. It's low-tech and very portable. I just wonder if the plastic unit gives off gas but it's too late to worry about that now because I already own it.Customer Review: Great & quiet HEPA Air Purifier
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this air purifier. It's fairly quiet (I don't have to turn the TV up to drown out its noise). I bought it because I live in an old apt. and neighbors smoked right outside my window. Of course the day after I ordered this product, the neighbors moved. But I am still finding benefit from it as I have severe allergies to dust and mold. I can tell the air is cleaner but how I'm breathing better (I also have asthma). I think this a great value for its price and would highly recommend this.Customer Review: Great Air Purifier
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this air purifier. I bought this because it had a permanent filter. I'm not so sure the filter traps as much particles as a conventional paper filter. This air purifier uses a filter that is similar to a high performance car filter like K & N performance car air filter. It is basically a lifetime filter with an oil coating on it. It allows more air to pass through and relies on the oil coating on the filter to help trap particles. I know for a fact that the high performance car air filters do not trap as many foreign particles as the stock paper air filters, so this leads me to believe that the same would be true in home air purifiers.
I didn't realize this until after I purchased this product but I'm still happy with it. I didn't want to spend the time or money constantly buying new filters for this air purifier.
On the low setting it is very quiet but the unit's fan draws in very little air and as a result purifies little air. My pre-filter had no dust on it at all after I left the unit on this setting continuously for a few days.
The unit is most effective on the high setting, there was a lot of dust on the pre-filter after only half a day. I just use a lint brush every 1-2 days to clean the pre-filter. You should know that the unit is very loud on the high setting and should only be used on this setting when you're not home. It's impossible to sleep with the unit on high.
I'd advise you to use the medium setting when you're at home. The unit is even quiet enough on this setting to sleep.