Friedrich C-90B Air Cleaner
by Friedrich
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List Price: Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Friedrich C-90B Air Cleaner
Customer Review: Outstanding Air Cleaner -- and No Expensive Filters to Replace!
Summary: 5 Stars
For years I was interested in purchasing a high-end air cleaner for my apartment, but hesitated due to the prospect of regularly spending mega-$$$ on expensive HEPA filters. And while the principle of electrostatic cleaners seemed great -- simply clean the collector regularly -- the negative reviews (stating that models like Sharper Image's "Ionic Breeze" are essentially ineffective) kept me from buying.
After reading the reviews in Consumer Reports -- where this Friedrich was top-rated -- I decided to buy one. And I am VERY happy with my purchase! It provides outstanding cleaning of dust/pollen/etc., and there are no expensive filters to replace.
The only filter you might need to replace -- and this is optional -- is the Carbon filter. Said filter helps remove odors from the air, but if your primary concern is air cleaning, you can forget about replacing it. (I have had my air cleaner for six months, and do not see a need to replace the Carbon filter.)
CLEANING TIP: The main filter mechanism -- a removable electrostatic "cell" that looks like a small radiator -- can be cleaned in a dishwasher. (Indeed, the user guide recommends dishwasher cleaning.) In any case, if the cell does not fit in the top rack of your dishwasher, flip the top rack upside down. This should provide ample clearance for the cell, and as an added bonus, the bottom of the rack should be free of protrusions that could potentially damage the cell.
Bottom line, this air cleaner is an outstanding investment. It provides one of the most economical solutions, while also being one of the most effective. What more could one ask for?
Customer Review: Works well, minor quibbles -- first invest in well-sealed ducts
Summary: 4 Stars
Indeed this unit works much better than units by Honeywell and others I've used. It doesn't sound like a jet engine, like the Honeywell blasters. Importantly, the C-90 doesn't have coatings on its filters that can bother some sensitive people. Other brands do have those coatings. There isn't another filtration unit on the market that can touch the C-90's cleaning efficiency. Although the famous (and litigious) consumer magazine says that the C-90 produces less ozone than competitive products, I am able to smell the ozone when the unit functions, but not on competitive products. I called Friedrich about this, but the person they said would respond never called me.
The price of the C-90's carbon filter is downplayed, but it is far from free. The unit should have casters for easier movement, although it is not terribly heavy.
It's worth noting that this unit, designed to clean a small space, costs about the same as a good whole house filtration unit, which may be a better investment. The whole house cleaner is installed directly in the duct system, and is silent.
I just had my old ducts replaced and cleaned, which made a far bigger difference than running the C90 AND a whole house unit simultaneously. If you have a lot of dust, then you should consider updating your ductwork. Having done so, I no longer need to run the C-90.
Update: Consumer Reports, which previously rated this unit highly, now does not recommend it, or any other electrostatic cleaner, because of the ozone it generates.
Customer Review: A horrific mess!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I am a very careful shopper, and meticulously care for my property. This Friedrich air cleaner was purchased on the recommendation of Consumer Reports.
The air cleaner would work well for awhile, but then I would notice BLACK FLECKS all over the walls, ceiling, windows, throughout the air cleaner ...... everywhere throughout the room!!!!!
This mess is caused by the replaceable "carbon filter" at the back of the air cleaner, and the mess DOES NOT clean up with soap and water - a heavy cleaning agent is required!!!!!
After the 4th mess throughout the family room, and numerous replacements of the "carbon filter" (one $24.00 filter lasting a whole 2 weeks before it spewed all over the walls and the air cleaner itself), I ordered a "pre-cleaning filter" to replace the "carbon filter", but the air cleaner no longer turned on. I believe too much BLACK GUNK from the carbon filter had ruined the air cleaner - and there is no way to take the air cleaner apart to clean deep inside at the bottom.
I made contact with the company for help with the problem. They merely guessed at what might have happened and offered no solutions.
After only 2 years this $500.00 air cleaner (not including the numerous replaceable "carbon filters") now rests in a land fill!!!
Customer Review: not satisfied
Summary: 1 Stars
Here some background. I used to use the Ionic Breeze aircleaner to clean the air against my allergies. The Ionic Breeze is not a good aircleaner as it has no fan to drive the air. I had it next to my face, literally, at night to feel an effect. I was not all too offended by the ozone smell until CR came up with its warning against the device and I threw it in the trash. I bought the Friedrich with the highest expectation but I am somewhat disapointed. I run it at night in my bedroom. I am not sure the cleaning power exceeds conventional HEPA filters (myallergies tell me "no"). People in other reviews point out the macroscopic dust that they see. This is what every air cleaner does terrific well (the ones with a fan at least). It's hard to judge the microscopic cleaning power. Let alone I am very disappointed about the ozone emission. I am a physicist. I am not paranoid but the smell from the ozone emission is at least as bad as the Ionic Breeze. Someone above called it wet dog smell. I just don't believe that with the low emission as stated in CR it would smell that bad. Maybe CR tested a particular good model, don't know. For my part I have a 500 $ failed health investment for the garage...Customer Review: Humidity Helps
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned the Friedrich since a Consumers Report recommendation. We use it in the bedroom with the door open, so most of the house gets some help. Most of the year only had to clean the filters every other week or even once a month. We live in a very dry climate and recently I purchased a Crane 2.3 Gallon COOL Mist humidifier which we run at night. One week later I noticed that the filters needed attention. They were FULL. I now have to clean the filters once a week for sure. I have also taken to vacuuming the filters & then putting the non-charcole filter in the dishwasher on the top shelf and running it through the rinse cycle before I wash the main filter. We recently were out of town for a week and I left the humidifier off while we were gone but left the Friedrich running. When we returned, the filters looked like they could have easily gone for another week without cleaning. Humidity seems to make a big difference.