Germ Guardian from Best Buy
Having grown up in Hawaii, I couldn’t wait to experience my first Springtime in Virginia, envisioning a fairytale season of budding daffodils and chirping birds. What I didn’t anticipate was the multitude of allergies that would come with the warmer weather! It was dreadful, even with the heavy duty HEPA air filters in our A/C unit, I would sneeze and cough continually.
But, being a miser frugal, I stubbornly refused to plunk down the money for an air purification system…right up until Miss “A” began suffering from environmental allergies as well. Then, I began researching air purification systems in earnest. Once we installed an air filtration system in Miss “A’s” room, we were shocked at how quickly her allergies cleared up. It was definitely worth every penny!
For me, the hardest part was sorting through the myriad of options to determine which system was the best (and, most affordable!) for our family. I wish I had known, back then, that Best Buy offers over one hundred systems, along with a team of customer service representatives who can offer helpful tips and advice along the way. Since it’s that time of year again, I thought I would share a few things I learned as I researched air filtration systems:
:: Check the square footage that the air filtration system covers. We were looking for a system that would stay in my daughter’s bedroom; and, since most are certified for a 200 square foot room, it wasn’t too hard to find one. But, if you’re trying to clean the air in your living room, you’ll need to know your room measurements to get a system that is up to the job.
:: Find the filter that is best for you. We adore our HEPA filtration system – it captures 99.97% of airborne allergens (like animal dander, pollen, and dust) as small as 0.3 microns for thorough purification. With it, we saw a marked improvement in our daughter’s allergy symptoms. But, if you’re looking for something to filter household odors, such as pet, cooking and smoke odors, an activated carbon (charcoal) filter is much more helpful than a HEPA filter.
:: Check the cost of the filter. Some systems use filters that you need to replace on a regular basis (it’s always good to check how often they will need to be changed), while others boast a washable/permanent filter. Understandably, the systems that have washable filters are generally more expensive. But, you would be amazed at how quickly the cost of HEPA filters adds up!
:: Read the reviews on Best Buy and Consumer Reports – it will definitely help in making your decision. Many times, consumers suffer from the same allergies as you, and can offer suggestions on which filter helped them the best.
:: Be sure to check how often the filtration system can purify the room air. Ideally, it’s good to have it changed 4-6 times an hour. For instance, the Honeywell Oscillating Air Purifier changes the room air up to 5 times an hour.
For those of you who are in the market for an air purification system, Best Buy is generously offering a printable coupon for 20% off all air purification products to help defray the cost! Happy Spring!
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free
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