Question from Roya
I wanted to get more information about Austin Air purifier. I just bought the standard one and and turned it on for the first time on full blast. It made me feel light headed and queasy. Just wondering is this normal because of too much toxins in my home? I bought this because i read that it’s top of the line and even read a study on it from John Hopkins it was also used during 9/11 at ground zero. So, does this normally make people feel this way at first and then it goes away I just don’t understand why it’s making me feel this way.
Lisa’s Answer
I can’t tell you exactly what made you feel ill because everyone is different, though people with hypersensitive have reported reacting to this unit as well as other air purifiers. The housing is metal though the wheels are made of plastic and some off gassing will occur. Some people have found that allowing it to run at full power outside or in a garage for a few days helps.
This is a very good unit. There are a few others that I think are better but you can read more about that in my Portable Air Purifier Buying Guide. You can read other people’s comments at the end where some reader’s indicate which air purifiers they have reacted to.
I purchased my first Austin unit in 2008. I now have 5 of that brand throughout our home. My machines have been ones specific to MCS. As I bought more, I purchased the Bedroom machines which remove more chemicals. When the older machines require a replacement filter I replace them with the bedroom filter.
When buying a new machine my supplier would run the machine for 24 hours on high before he delivered it to me. It still took about a week until the air was pleasant.
The major hurdle is getting rid of all the objects within your home that are your TRIGGERS, the machines can only do so much.
Almost everything triggers me.
We have done extensive removals of my triggers, but impossible to remove all. So I continue to require 24 hour operation of the Lennox Pureair furnace filter, 2 basement units and 1 on the main floor.
The bedroom ones ( 2)run when I am reacting.
Another 1 upstairs is on throughout the night.
The last 1, on the main floor, runs during the day while the computer is in use.
Those of us with MCS do not react to the same things or find relief from the same machines but I find great relief from mine.
I have 5 Austin throughout the house and 2 AllerAir.
I have the Austin Standard air cleaner and I have to run it on my enclosed balcony for 1 – 2 weeks to get rid of the charcoal smell. Then I can bring it inside. The company says to run it on high for at least an hour, but if you have mcs, it takes much longer than that. The noise on high is very loud, so if you have a garage, better to run it in there.