Choosing an air purifier for someone with a dust mite allergy
View all recommended Dust Mite air purifiers
How to choose the best air purifier for dealing with your Mould Allergy
View all air purifiers recommended for destroying mould spores
You should choose a hepa type air purifier, but it MUST also have a carbon filter.
Carbon is the only thing that will adsorb the smell of the tobacco. As a general rule the more carbon in the filter the better the tobacco smoke removal.
If you want genuinely unbeatable tobacco smoke removal, then the BlueAir Smokestop models are the ultimate machine. The Blueair smokestop has almost a Kilo of carbon in the filter - vastly more than any other compact unit we have and when added to the Hepasilent Technology and superior CADR ( clean air delivery rates ) they deliver, it is easy to see why Blueair are often regarded as the best Hepa air purifiers money can buy.
As a less expensive alternative for smaller rooms also consider the Boneco P340 or for a compact unit with fully automatic operation the stylish Stadler Form Roger Little is an excellent option. To view the whole range of suitable alternatives visit our Air Purifiers For Smoke and Odour removal section.
Over 5.4 Million people in the UK suffer from Asthma, 1.1 million of those are children. In fact more children suffer from asthma in the UK than in any other country on the globe. There are various particles that can trigger an asthma attack, and most of these can be filtered out quite easily with a good Hepa filter. However if you want the best possible chance of destroying ALL the allergy triggers then an Airfree air steriliser will almost always be the best choice. Click here to visit our Air Purifiers for Asthma section which will quickly point you to the best units for Asthma.
A well chosen Air Purifier will filter out everything from basic allergens to tobacco smoke , viruses and even chemical VOC's ( volatile organic compounds - ie. the glue found in many new carpets etc).
However, different units work better on different issues, for instance one purifier might be the best in the world for destroying viruses, but be fairly ineffective against tobacco smoke. Another may offer fantastic respite for asthma sufferers, but be virtually negligent in the removal of odours.
We answer all those queries and more in our air purifiers guide below. But of course you can always just pick up the phone and ask the question if you want to get it right in double quick time!
Pet dander from Cats, Dogs and Birds can be a real nuisance. A decent air purifier can filter out over 99% of these pet dander allergens and make the air in the room virtually allergen free. You obviously do not want to get rid of your pet, so investing in a powerful purifier capable of recirculating the air as quickly as possible is the next best thing!
Purifiers with cleanable Hepa filters can be a wise choice for Bird Dander
Of course the trouble with bird dander in particular is that it is a very large particle and therefore clogs up the filter in most machines very quickly. Replacement Hepa filters can be fairly expensive and for that reason, when dealing with pet dander it is wise to opt for an air purifier with a 'Lifetime Hepa'. Lifetime Hepa filters are unique in that they can be gently hoovered out and used again and again saving you a fortune in replacement costs over the years.
All the air purifiers in our Air Purifiers for Pet Dander section have been carefully preselected and encompass all the requirements that make an effective pet dander air purifier.
Or just pick up the phone
You can always pick up the phone and give us a call if you would like to talk it through with a human, we do love to talk to our customers after all.
Not always.
The British Allergy Seal of Approval is actually a paid for endorsement that many high street brands rely upon to add an instant credence to their products.
It can be used a general guide that the product uses a filter that will remove allergens etc and therefore could be beneficial for an allergy sufferer. But that itself is no guarantee that the air purifier itself is particularly effective.
Some of the world's best air purifier manufacturers choose not to subscribe.
Many of the world's more professional air purifier brands do not recognise the Seal of Approval as a true testing authority. Manufacturers like Airfree and Blueair for instance already have a host of more significant independent (not paid for) awards and accolades for their equipment from universities, laboratories and testing houses across the world. This type of certification is a much clearer indication that the product you are considering has been proven to genuinely relieve peoples allergy symptoms in real life situations.
In summary
Just because a product has the British Allergy seal of Approval does not necessarily mean that it is any better than any other. The best indicators are genuine independent test results. That does not mean that units with the seal of approval are not good machines, some are very good indeed. But it is definitely not the only indicator you should use when making your decision.
Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental risks to public health, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lung-damaging indoor pollutants may include house dust, pollen and pet dander particles, and tobacco smoke, fumes released by chemical-based cleaners or gases produced by synthetic building materials. While air purification cannot solve all indoor air pollution problems, the technique is an important part of the EPA's recommended strategy for improving indoor air quality.
Contemporary construction methods help seal fumes and particles indoors. According to the EPA, indoor pollution levels may build until they are between two and five times higher than outdoor levels – and may even be as much as 100 times higher. Because we spend as much as 90% of our time inside our homes and workplaces, the health risks from exposure to indoor air pollution cannot be ignored.
Immediate health effects may include headache, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Even if you experience no noticeable symptoms of pollution-related illness, the EPA says it is prudent to improve the quality of your indoor air. Long-term exposure may contribute to respiratory and heart diseases, allergies or asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
To improve indoor air quality, the EPA recommends removal of the pollutant source, increased ventilation, and air cleaning. The first two strategies are effective for some pollutants under some circumstances. Air purification, in conjunction with either strategy or on its own, may be the easiest to live with.
Blueair systems remove 99.97% of the tiniest (0.1 micron) particles that accumulate inside our homes when operating on level one. These pollutants can affect anyone over time, although children, the elderly and those with respiratory illness (including allergies and asthma) may suffer most from high indoor pollution levels.
While air purification cannot solve all indoor air quality problems, the technique is an important part of the EPA's recommended strategy for improving indoor air quality.
What does CADR mean and why does it matter?
The Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR, on a box can tell a consumer how efficient air purifiers are at removing a certain contaminant from the indoors. The three pollutants that are measured are pollen, smoke and dust. These three pollutants are the most common ones found in the home's indoor air. By comparing the CADR numbers of each air cleaner, a consumer is able to determine which unit would be the most effective for the room he or she is concentrating on. The CADR tells how effective the air purifier will be at removing the pollutant from the room. With the help of the AHAM seal, consumers can concentrate on how the air purifiers will perform in a real-life setting inside their home. The consumer does not have to examine and compare which type of technology or filtering system he or she may need but only how effective the air cleaner may be according to the CADR's.
By separating the three contaminants and making three different CADR's for each pollutant, the AHAM has helped consumers to make the decision between home air purifiers. If one air purifier has a high pollen rating, a consumer who may have pollen allergies will be more prone to choosing that purifier for his or her home. A home air cleaner may have a high CADR when it comes to tobacco smoke so a homeowner that lives with residents who smoke cigarettes inside may choose that air purifier for his or her needs.
The room size rating that is calculated by the AHAM and is printed on the seal is also helpful for consumers when choosing home air purifiers. The room size rating that is given to each air purifier is based on the ability for it to remove 80% of smoke particles in a room. The rate assumes that the air moves through the room with one air change per hour and complete mixing inside the room.
Excerpt above by ClearFlite Air Purifiers writer Kelly K.
The test method used to establish CADR values is recognized as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in its Air Cleaner Energy Star Program. To ensure test results are accurrate and impartial, CADR testing is performed by an independent industry organization, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).
While some manufacturers do not submit their air purification systems for independent AHAM testing, we believe that CADR results should be central to your decision-making process. An air purification system is an important investment in your family's health and well-being. We urge you to compare CADR results for the air purification systems that you consider.
When the particle size and filter efficiency of any two air cleaners are the same (as they often are), the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is key to choosing the more effective system. CADR test results are expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM), with a number rating for three "yardstick" pollutants: tobacco smoke, dust and pollen. The higher the CADR test numbers, the better the overall ability of the unit to clean your indoor air. CADR results reflect:
- the size of the particle removed
- what percentages of particles are removed
- the volume of air actually moving through the system
Air volume is often described as air exchange (the number of times the total volume of air in the room is processed by the unit within a given period of time). Some manufacturers substitute air exchange rates for CADR results, but they are not equivalent. CADR numbers give a much more precise report of an air purifier's performance.
CADR works the same way, rating not just how much air is cleaned nor just what percentages of particles are removed, but the overall performance of the filtration system when both factors are examined.
Let's say that both Air Purifier 1 and Air Purifier 2 have a filter efficiency of 99.97% for particles that are 0.1 micron in size. The difference between the two units is the amount of air filtered through the unit (airflow air exchange rate). Air Purifier 1 provides an air exchange rate of 3 per hour, which means that the entire volume of air in the space is filtered through the unit three times per hour. Air Purifier 2 provides an air exchange rate of 5 per hour, filtering the air in the space five times per hour. Air Purifier 2 is better than Air Purifier 1; it has the same filter efficiency but filters the air in the room more frequently. Like CADR, this is based on both filter efficiency and the amount of air filtered.
An air purifier can have lower filter efficiency and higher air exchange rate than another air purifier, yet still deliver a better Clean Air Delivery Rate. That is why using CADR to compare air purifiers is the best way to find the best air purifier for you.
One micron is 1/1000 mm (1/25,000 of an inch). Airborne particles are usually described in microns. Generally speaking, the human eye can see debris and dust that are approximately 25 microns in size.
To understand just how small this is, consider that a single hair from your head averages about 70 microns in diameter or 30 times larger than the largest fine particle. The size of a given particle helps to determine the degree of potential threat to human health.
Particles ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 micron present the greatest health concern because they are small enough to get past the tiny hairs that line our breathing passages and are too large to be easily exhaled. These irritating mid-range particles include house and textile dust, pollen, pet dander, dust mites and their feces, many bacteria, auto exhaust, mold spores, and particles from laser printers and copiers.
0.1 to 0.3 micron = Dust mites and allergens
0.3 to 1 micron = Tobacco smoke, metallic fumes and bacteria such as staphylococcus
1 to 5 micr>5 to 10 micr>10 micr>
Because mid-range particles are more likely to become lodged in lung tissue, they are suspect in a wide range of health problems related to indoor air pollution, from headaches and dizziness to cardiovascular disease and cancer. In particular, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and dust mite particles are known to trigger asthma episodes and allergy attacks.
While smaller particles (0.1 to 0.3 micron) can be inhaled and exhaled more easily than mid-range particles, even these minute particles may irritate breathing passages and lungs. Smaller particle filtration is particularly beneficial to people living with allergies, asthma, other respiratory conditions, or cardiovascular disease.
Yes, we do! We take great pride in our customer service so please feel free to let us know how we fared with your order , good or bad, we want to know.
Click below to view all our recent feedback.
View Recent Feedback
Click to read our Ioniser (Ionizer) information guide. This will tell you everything you need to know and help you decide if an Ioniser is suitable for your particular needs.
All About Ionisers
We take great pride in knowing as much as there is to know about each individual product we display in our store.
Our goal is to provide the highest-accuracy assistance in connecting you with the product that most suits your individual needs.
Often you may find that we will point you to a product which is actually less expensive than the one you had earmarked purely because we know it will offer you better performance for your specific requirement.
1. We do not stock items that are unproven, unreliable or worse still unsafe.
2. We strive to avoid flashy, gimmicky type products. Most of these are admittedly often cheaper than the majority of items you will find here, but while those type of products may be initially attractive to the purse, they are often unsuitable and pretty much always less enduring.
3. We stock only the highest-quality products and spare parts and adhere to a strict quality control to ensure the reliability and long life of everything we supply.
Our reputation rests on making sure you are happy with the product you have bought, and therefore we steadfastly make it our business to advise you correctly. Over the years we have supplied many household names with our products and services and the biggest thrill for us is when one of our customers returns for additional advice or perhaps invites us to advise another family member or colleague of theirs. That is when we know we have done our job properly.
View some of our customers past and present.
Data Protection
Only the minimum necessary information required to fulfill your order is stored by us. We do not share your data with any third party companies. All necessary data is securely stored and not made available via the internet. We keep this data in confidence according to our privacy policy.
About Winix
Winix FAQ's
View all Winix Products
About Stadler Form
Our Delivery Service
All orders over £50.00 on our website include Free Next Working Day Delivery to mainland UK addresses. Orders below £50.00 are subject to a small £4.96 P&P to cover costs.
All orders received by 4pm Monday to Friday are shipped same day on a 24hr courier.
Orders received after 4pm are shipped the following day to arrive 24hrs after that. Please note that next day delivery relates to working days only.
Orders placed before the 4pm cut off on a Friday will be delivered on the following Monday.
Orders placed after 4pm on a Friday and over the weekend will be shipped on the Monday to arrive on
the Tuesday.
Should you require a timed delivery or live outside mainland UK don't worry , we can do that too, however our couriers do impose a small surcharge for certain areas and these are explained clearly below and also on the checkout pages.
Standard Delivery Options
Next Working Day 8am-5pm. Free of Charge with 1 Hour Delivery Time Slot sent by text message and/or email.
Next Working Day Before Noon costs £9.00
Saturday Delivery costs £15.00
Deliveries to N.Ireland cost £13.95 (Although this is part of the UK, couriers still charge extra for this service - sorry!)
Deliveries to Non Mainland UK addresses (Including the Republic of Ireland) cost £13.95 ( No Saturday Service Available - Sorry )
Deliveries to the Channel Islands cost £16.00 ( No Saturday Service Available for this - Sorry )
Arrival Notification - No More Waiting At Home All Day
When you place an online order with us you will be sent an Email alert letting you know your parcel has been shipped along with additional tracking details sent right to your inbox. This Email will not only tell you the delivery day, but more importantly it will detail what time your parcel will be delivered to within an hour. Knowing the status of your delivery at any one time means you can now rush the kids to school, pop out to the shops or even visit your aunty Doris for a cup of tea safe in the knowledge that you will not miss the delivery driver.
Change Your Delivery Day Online
If your allotted delivery time /day is suddenly no longer convenient, then you have the option to change it to another day or even another address directly from the Email or text message that we send to you. Total flexibility designed to enable you to get on with life's more important issues.
Service Updates: All services are currently running on time with no adverse weather affecting deliveries.
We want you to be delighted with your product and with the service your receive from us at all times. We are a family business and understand how important it is for our customers to know they are in good hands. This is why we actively encourage you to pick up the phone and take advantage of our friendly advice and expertise at any time before, during or even after you have made your purchase.
Our aim is to make sure you get the product that is absolutely right for you. Sometimes things may happen which mean you wish to return a product and that is fine! Any unopened product can be returned for a full refund or store credit within 14 days of purchase. If you wish to return an item simply call us on 01207 506555 or send an email to info@breathingspace.co.uk and we will provide you with a returns number to attach to your parcel. A full refund will be provided immediately upon the products safe return.
We will always do our best to take care of you, however there may be some instances whereby we are regretfully unable to accommodate a return or offer a full refund. For instance, in respect of hygiene, we are unable to provide a full refund for some of our air treatment products that are incomplete, have been opened or used. However, by all means please pick up the phone and give us a call, if you think your purchase isn't right for you we'll work with you and do our very best to take care of you.
All Breathing Space products carry a minimum of twelve months warranty. In fact most of them now carry a two year or even a five year warranty for complete peace of mind.
Once your product is more than thirty days old (but still within its manufacturers warranty) we will repair or replace it for you under the terms of the warranty.
To arrange return of faulty goods simply contact us on 01207 507444 to tell us of the problem and we will provide you with a returns number and co-ordinate the return of the equipment.
We will repair or replace the product as per our legal responsibility when:
• The product is confirmed to be faulty.
• If no fault is found then the product(s) will be returned and a charge of £13.95 (plus VAT) per product, plus carriage costs will be made to cover technical inspection costs. (Before sending goods back as ‘faulty’ it is always a good idea to contact our technical helpline on 01207 507444 who are often able to resolve setup and installation problems over the phone. Most manufacturers will also have a Product Helpline in the User Guide provided with the item).
• The product is otherwise in its original condition.
• It is returned complete, together with any accessories in the original box and all packaging.
• Our promise to repair or replace products does not apply to faults caused by accident, neglect or misuse. Repair, replacement or refund is solely at the discretion of Breathing Space.
If your product develops a fault within the first 30 days of delivery we will repair, replace or refund it for you.
To arrange return of faulty goods simply contact us on 01207 507444 to tell us of the problem and we will provide you with a returns number. Usually we will arrange to send a courier to collect the faulty equipment at no cost to you.
We will replace the product or refund your money when:
• The product is confirmed to be faulty.
• If no fault is found then the product(s) will be returned and a charge of £13.95 (plus VAT) per product, plus carriage costs will be made to cover technical inspection costs. Manufacturers' inspection charges for 'no fault found' items are sometimes higher than those stated above and if the item requires a full inspection from the manufacturer, their charge may need to be passed on to the customer. (Before sending goods back as ‘faulty’ it is always a good idea to contact our technical support on 01207 507444 who are often able to resolve setup and installation problems over the phone. Most manufacturers will also have a Product Helpline in the User Guide provided with the item).
• The product is otherwise in its original condition.
• It is returned complete, together with any accessories in the original box and all packaging.
Our promise to replace products or refund your money does not apply to faults caused by accident, neglect or misuse.
Where item(s) are confirmed to be faulty, we will also pay for your reasonable cost of returning the item(s) for replacement or refund.
If you wish to return an item please send an email to info@breathingspace.co.uk stating your reason for return or better still contact us by telephone on 01207 507444 to obtain a returns number. If you would prefer to use the good old fashioned way and write us a letter our address is : Breathing Space, Unit 4a, Park Road Industrial Estate, Consett. DH8 5PY.
Please ensure that the returns number that you have been provided with is clearly marked on the outside of the packaging. Depending upon the reason for return we may arrange to collect the product from you, otherwise we suggest you use a Recorded Delivery service to return it to us. Please try to send goods back in the same way as you would expect to receive them, ensuring they are carefully wrapped. This way they should complete the return journey fully intact!
Yes, we have our own warehouse.
We are one of the only specialist air treatment product retailers in the country who actually stock all our own products on the shelf ready for same day dispatch.
If the item is on display you can be sure it is in stock at our warehouse and ready to be picked and shipped for next working day delivery across mainland UK.
The only items we cannot stock are mould testing kits which have to be made in a sterile environment at the lab before being sent out to you. Mould Kits generally take 1-3 days for delivery.
Next Day!
If you place your order before 2pm Monday to Thursday you will get your delivery the very next day.
For a full explanation of our delivery times and days see here.
Delivery is Free!
Virtually all items in our store are delivered free with a next working day delivery. Only orders below £50.00 attract a small Postage & Packing charge of £4.96. We would love to supply all our items with free delivery, but unfortunately for smaller orders this charge is necessary to cover costs.
The only other orders which incur additional costs are those shipping outside mainland UK or throughout Europe. These costs are made obvious prior to checking out, there are no last minute surprises here.
2014 will be our 20th year of continuous trading.
Customer feedback is vitally important to us here at Breathing Space. We believe our product knowledge and customer service are the two main things which can really help us to stand out in our industry. We have taken 20 years to get this far and so we think we must be doing something right. However, there is always room for improvement and things do not always go to plan, so please feel free to read our customer feedback on the link below.
Customer Feedback
Yes, we have our showroom at our business address listed in the contact section.
Here we display all of our air purifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning units and are happy to demonstrate these to you if you pop in and pay us a visit. No appointment is necessary.
Store Opening Hours
Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm
Weekends - Closed.
Online Shopping via Website
Open 24/7. Orders can be placed online at any time of the day or night and will be shipped as per our normal next working day service as outlined in our shipping section.
Yes. There is a section on the checkout which allows you to add a comment to your order. You can specify your preferred delivery day on there and we will amend the shipment at this end to ensure it arrives upon the day you choose.
Please note that Saturday deliveries cannot be made under the free delivery option, and will incur a £10.00 supplement. We do not make any profit on Saturday delivery charges, it is simply the cost that our couriers levy upon us for the weekend service.
No, you don't, you can order as a guest without creating an account.
If you do decide to create an account it is very quick and simple and enables you to then view your order status at any time and also view previous purchases. Most importantly it makes placing future orders for things like replacement filters etc, much simpler and quicker next time around.
Once you have created your account, and have finished shopping simply go to the checkout, choose the method of shipping you would like and continue to payment. If you are happy with the order, confirm the payment and the item(s) will be dispatched to you.
When you have placed your order you will receive an order confirmation by email. Shortly after you will receive another update to let you know your parcel has been shipped and is on its way to you.
One Hour Delivery Window Notification
On the morning of delivery you will receive another notification telling you exactly what time your parcel is going to arrive ( and even the name of the driver ! ).
Of course, we are still human and love to talk to our customers, so you can of course pick up the telephone and call us at any time for further clarification if you have any concern that your order may not be en route.
Our search database is very helpful and will attempt to guide you to the correct product with minimum of fuss. To find what you are looking for you can either type in a specific word or words in the search box and the website will try and bring up the most relevant articles for you. For instance, if you are looking for an air purifier for Asthma, you could try typing simply 'Asthma' or 'asthma air purifier' and the website will bring up information relevant to your query if available. Secondly, you can simply hover over the categories above to see the various sub categories. For instance if you are looking for a dehumidifier you can hover over the dehumidifier link and the various sub options available to you will drop down automatically.
Breathing Space
Unit 4a
Park Road Industrial Estate
Consett
DH8 5PY
VAT No : GB620861457
Telephone: 01207 507444
Facsimile: 01207 507333
Email: info@breathingspace.co.uk
Breathing Space is a trading name of Indoor Cooling Limited Registered in England 3474348.
At Breathing Space our ethos is to provide you with genuine, factual and unbiased advice. To help you choose the correct product for your needs and deliver it to you quickly. Rarely are the companies who provide the best customer experience also the cheapest. These two factors do not usually go hand in hand. We do not focus on simply being cheaper than everybody else, after all anybody can do that. However, we do recognise that price is also immensely important and nobody should be expected to pay over the odds for anything, no matter how good the advice or service is. Therefore we do have a price promise which ensures that no matter how little the difference may be between ourselves and the identical product found elsewhere, we will happily match that for you too. We can't say fairer that that!
Click here for our Price Promise.
David Watt
Date Joined: May 1994
Hobbies: Golf,Cycling, Football, Music.
Favourite Film: The Big Lebowski (or anything by the Coen Brothers)
Favourite Food: My wife's home cooking and Indian Curries (in that order!)
Most likely to: Answer your technical queries
Contact Me: David@breathingspace.co.uk
Lyn Watt
Date Joined: November 1998
Hobbies: Running, Cooking and Shopping!
Favourite Film: The Shawshank Redemption
Favourite Food: Fruit, great home cooked stuff, and the occasional Indian!
Most likely to: Answer any invoicing and account queries
Contact Me: Lyn@breathingspace.co.uk
Helen Gibson-Baker
Date Joined: June 2010
Hobbies: Horse Racing and Showing German Shepherds
Favourite Films: Home Alone & Overboard
Favourite Food: Garlic King Prawns
Most Likely to: Answer your call
Contact Me: Helen@breathingspace.co.uk
Professor Francis Johnson PHD ( Medical Research Scientist )
Date Joined: Been consulting on all matters since May 1994
Age: 82 and still working!
Hobbies: Antiques, Travelling and Languages.
Lives: Between the UK and Long Island NY.
Favourite Food: Italian
Most Likely to: Know the answer - to whatever the question may be!
Contact Me: francis@breathingspace.co.uk
Big Stan - Company Mascot
Date Joined: April 2009
Age: 4
Hobbies: Eating, running, swimming and carrying tennis balls.
Favourite Film: Dog Day Afternoon
Favourite Food: Kibble Mix and quite partial to a bit of cheese.
Most Likely to: Wag his tail at the slightest hint of attention.
Contact Me: Stan@breathingspace.co.uk
