Ever since we launched the Blast and Blast Mini in 2017, we’ve wanted to get good data on how long the filters last. These filters are huge, 10-20 times the size of our DIY purifier filters in fact. We’d expect them to last much longer, but let’s see what the data says. The Problem with the Numbers […]
Category: Filters
How long do the Blast and Blast Mini HEPA filters really last? – Supplemental Article
Estimating Lifespan from the DIY1.0 Longevity Tests The Blast HEPA is 20 times bigger than the DIY 1.0 and it is made of the same material. Thus, is it reasonable to think that the Blast HEPA will last 20 times as long? Not really, because the Blasts push more air and clean bigger rooms, so […]
Test: Can You Turn Off Your Purifier When You Sleep?
Here’s a question I often get asked: “I don’t want to hear the fan while I sleep, so can I run my air purifier for an hour and then turn it off before sleeping?” The logic is that, since the doors and windows are closed, once we clean all the air in the room, it […]
Do Air Purifiers Remove PM2.5?
When I was coughing through Beijing’s airpocalypse and thinking about buying an air purifier, I wanted to know something first–do air purifiers really get the small particles of PM2.5? I wondered because I saw lots of air purifier tests on pollen, but pollen is generally 10 microns or larger, whereas I was really […]
Should air purifiers have the filter on the front or back?
When I made my first DIY purifier, I put the filter on the front: That led me on a long, unexpected journey. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one interested in breathing clean air in China, so I started a small social enterprise called Smart Air to ship these low-cost purifiers to fellow-air […]
Protect Yourself From Cities With Bad Air Pollution: A Beginner’s Guide
So you’ve found yourself a city with bad air polluted – perhaps you’re in Beijing, Bangalore or Bangkok? Or try Delhi, Ulaanbaatar or Shanghai? What can you do to keep air pollution from trimming years off your life? When I moved to China in 2007, I wasn’t a dummy. I was a college grad, and […]
Do we need add-on air purifiers？
Soon after I started making DIYs, people emailed me asking if we could make a DIY for their car. My initial reaction was, “Great idea!” On the highways, we’re surrounded by all of that awful pollution. Best to purify that air. But as a methodical nerd, I wanted to do some tests first. The results of […]
Tesla’s “Bioweapon Defense Mode” Is As Effective As…A 2010 Mazda?
Tesla rolled out its “bioweapon defense mode” to lots of fanfare and media attention. Tesla went big: “Bioweapon Defense Mode is not a marketing statement, it is real. You can literally survive a military grade bio attack by sitting in your car.” Elon’s telling the truth, but not the whole truth. Tests I’ve done […]
Can I Clean or Wash HEPA filters? – Supplemental Data
This post contains supplemental data for the post “Can I Clean or Wash HEPA filters?“. It includes detailed information about the testing method, and the original data, open-sourced for all to view. Click here to view the original article Open Data Particle Capture Tests For the particle capture tests, CK used a Met One GT-531 […]
Can I Clean or Wash HEPA filters?
HEPA filters are a nearly perfect solution for air pollution. They are backed by tons of scientific tests; they’re pretty cheap; they use about as much energy as a lightbulb; they even have documented health benefits. Just about the only remaining problem is that you have to throw out the HEPA filters every few months. So wouldn’t it […]