As a new vaper who spends a large amount of time in a 12x15 bedroom/office with carpet, a bed, computers running, and most importantly radiant heat and no airflow, I'm in need of an air purifier with the specific requirement of good performance in dealing with vapor. I've found a few mentions of people using them with success here on the forums, the most important piece of information being a charcoal pre-filter having the greatest effect on the vapor as I had already suspected. The pre-filter is paramount as the VG in practically all my juice leaves a musty smell in a stale air room that is currently only poorly filtered when I turn my box fan on with the furnace filters stacked on the intake side.
Personally, I'm particularly interested in the immediate response of a desktop unit, box or mini tower, used mainly as a fume exhumer versus a general purpose larger floor type unit, cube or full tower, used more for full room washes and how each can handle with quick capture of vapor. Keeping the vapor from electronics is a big goal.
So, in an effort to gather recommendations for myself and hopefully others looking here for what to buy, let's lay out some specific characteristics to consider when choosing or critique when recommending.
Components
Ionization -
Any unit with an ionizer must have the ability to disable it. Ozone sensitivity is relatively common and causes people to gag who can handle just about any other scent out there.
Particulate filter -
Size, efficiency, cost, availability. The bigger the filter in a given form factor device, the larger the volume of air that can be pulled through at a given flow rate. Replacement cost is also crucial to many people. I've seen major brands have 2 nearly identical models, form factor and specs, use two nearly identical filters with 30+ USD price differences in the replacement filter.
Active pre-filter -
The thing that handles vapor. Generally an active charcoal filter that air first enters. This is what grabs most of the thick vapor and scents out of the air. Pre-filters should have a surface area as large as the particulate filter so as to not constrict flow more than necessary. Again, size, efficiency, cost, availability. For heavy vapers, this will be the piece you're replacing the most and should be readily available and cheap.
Form factors
Unit size -
How big is the unit, where can it be placed. You may need a unit that only fits in a small space, regardless of the volume it handles.
Unit shape -
For a given size, the shape of the unit will play a big role in where it can be placed and how it performs. Towers take less surface space but generally perform worse than cube style units given the surface area of fans. Remember, fans are round, not rectangular.
Appearance -
What colors is it available in. Is it a perfect square edged unit, have smooth contours, wild shapes. Some people won't buy a unit if it doesn't fit their decor regardless of the performance.
Performance
Reduction -
How well does it reduce vapor, odor, dust.
Does the first wash of an exhale clean well?
Does the unit require time to catch up during active vaping?
Noise -
Sound levels on the side of a box mean nothing to most people. Loud airflow can be more welcome than quiet fan noise. What does it sound like and how noticeable is it, in what reference environment? If there's movement, there's sound, no air circulation system is truly silent.
Intake and Exhaust -
Where does it pull in from and where does it exhaust to?
How strong is the breeze? Larger surface fans can move more air with less force.
Power -
Something you will have on constantly should be as efficient as possible. Energy ratings are welcome.
Interface
What kind of interface does it have, menu system, individual up/down buttons, dials, presets, a remote?
Does the unit resume the last mode, remembers settings if digital, separate on/off if analog?
How much control do the settings allow? Does it have a timer/scheduler?
Cost and availability
Initial cost of the unit.
Stores that carry it and have it on display.
Cost and source of replacement filter components. Experienced replacement frequencies.
I could ask this many other places, read reviews and specifications for expectations, but I'd never get experiences from vapers like I would here. So please share your experience with units you've already used while vaping.
Personally, I'm particularly interested in the immediate response of a desktop unit, box or mini tower, used mainly as a fume exhumer versus a general purpose larger floor type unit, cube or full tower, used more for full room washes and how each can handle with quick capture of vapor. Keeping the vapor from electronics is a big goal.
So, in an effort to gather recommendations for myself and hopefully others looking here for what to buy, let's lay out some specific characteristics to consider when choosing or critique when recommending.
Components
Ionization -
Any unit with an ionizer must have the ability to disable it. Ozone sensitivity is relatively common and causes people to gag who can handle just about any other scent out there.
Particulate filter -
Size, efficiency, cost, availability. The bigger the filter in a given form factor device, the larger the volume of air that can be pulled through at a given flow rate. Replacement cost is also crucial to many people. I've seen major brands have 2 nearly identical models, form factor and specs, use two nearly identical filters with 30+ USD price differences in the replacement filter.
Active pre-filter -
The thing that handles vapor. Generally an active charcoal filter that air first enters. This is what grabs most of the thick vapor and scents out of the air. Pre-filters should have a surface area as large as the particulate filter so as to not constrict flow more than necessary. Again, size, efficiency, cost, availability. For heavy vapers, this will be the piece you're replacing the most and should be readily available and cheap.
Form factors
Unit size -
How big is the unit, where can it be placed. You may need a unit that only fits in a small space, regardless of the volume it handles.
Unit shape -
For a given size, the shape of the unit will play a big role in where it can be placed and how it performs. Towers take less surface space but generally perform worse than cube style units given the surface area of fans. Remember, fans are round, not rectangular.
Appearance -
What colors is it available in. Is it a perfect square edged unit, have smooth contours, wild shapes. Some people won't buy a unit if it doesn't fit their decor regardless of the performance.
Performance
Reduction -
How well does it reduce vapor, odor, dust.
Does the first wash of an exhale clean well?
Does the unit require time to catch up during active vaping?
Noise -
Sound levels on the side of a box mean nothing to most people. Loud airflow can be more welcome than quiet fan noise. What does it sound like and how noticeable is it, in what reference environment? If there's movement, there's sound, no air circulation system is truly silent.
Intake and Exhaust -
Where does it pull in from and where does it exhaust to?
How strong is the breeze? Larger surface fans can move more air with less force.
Power -
Something you will have on constantly should be as efficient as possible. Energy ratings are welcome.
Interface
What kind of interface does it have, menu system, individual up/down buttons, dials, presets, a remote?
Does the unit resume the last mode, remembers settings if digital, separate on/off if analog?
How much control do the settings allow? Does it have a timer/scheduler?
Cost and availability
Initial cost of the unit.
Stores that carry it and have it on display.
Cost and source of replacement filter components. Experienced replacement frequencies.
I could ask this many other places, read reviews and specifications for expectations, but I'd never get experiences from vapers like I would here. So please share your experience with units you've already used while vaping.
