Neoair Enviro 68108: The Little Engine that Could

Neoair Enviro 68108 (still) $199.00 after 5 years.

The Enviro 68108 is a futuristic entry-level air purifier with good looks, automated electronic interface, multiple filtration stages, and low maintenance costs.

First reviewed here in 2006, Enviro has survived in the “recession” (2008-?), while other imports in the lower class have vanished.

The Neoair company is still in the air cleaner import business, with slow but friendly customer service, and critically, replacement filters are still available.

We are reviewing a value priced (cheap), low powered, China-built air cleaner, so it is important not to expect this machine to match premium brand performance and durability.

This Chinese export has been marketed in the U.S. for several years now, developing a mixed track record.

Hard data is still scarce, but users have reported quality issues, considered in detail below.

Seventeen customer reviews at amazon.com average 4 stars.

The majority of these users are very pleased with the price/performance ratio of this small machine.

Potential Neoair 68108 buyers may be confused by the seeming lack of airflow data.

A 450 sq ft room size is recommended without supporting air delivery figures – this is way too large.

Neoair did not join in Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) Clean Air Delivery Rate tests (CADR).

Some reviewers have listed non-participation in CADR testing as evidence for this low powered product’s inferiority to more powerful, manually controlled, very noisy, AHAM-certified machines.

Air-purifier-power still likes this little air cleaner, despite its quality faults, because it is automatic and near silent, two absolute requirements for any new purchase in my book. (Yes, I own 20 AHAM-certified purifiers in two homes and have 5 noisy Honeywells, left running only when I am not home, too LOUD!.)

CADRs, criticized vigorously here; CADR criticism, are not essential where airflow numbers are published by the builder. The hefty fees and strong bias cause many companies to avoid CADR participation.

Unfortunately, there was a marketing error when data sheets were translated from Chinese and distributed.

You will find Neoair Enviro’s airflow quoted across the web as “11.5 feet per second.” This is technically incorrect.

Some dealer websites quote different air flow rates for the Enviro.

Airflow for products sold in the US, in the absence of an AHAM certified CADR, is properly stated in cubic feet per minute (cfm).

This is just a marketing error by a young import company, I don’t think Neoair intended to mislead consumers. My regular readers know how common these mistakes are in air purifier world.

In response to my email, a Neoair official quickly responded with Enviro 68108 airflow rates and room size calculations;

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“Airflow rates areHigh: 135 cfmMedium: 85.5 cfmLow: 65.6 cfm

Coverage Area:

The Enviro has the capability to filter 8,100 cubic feet of air per hour. A room with (450sq ft) that is 22.5ft x 20ft x 8ft the total air volume is 3,600cuft.

This brings it to a ratio of 2.25 air exchanges per hour. (Decent ratio for average air filtration purposes)……

….The average bedroom size in the US is 15ft x 12ft x 8ft or 1440 cubic feet. In this case the air exchange rate is 5.6/hour. (Excellent exchange rate for Asthmatics).”

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That comes out to 180 sq ft for 5.6 air changes.

Air Purifier Power is always more conservative on room size recommendations, see Room Air Purifier: Size Myths Deflated.

I would instsll the small Neoair 68108s in medium bedrooms of 160 square feet or less. This would provide over 6 air changes hourly.

Room size ratings, calculated on the basis of high speed operation, must also consider noise. Because 68108 is very quiet, it can run on high more of the time.

Neoair has introduced a “Plus” version, with all the same features, but powered for larger rooms. It retails around $300.

Testing at Air-Purifiers-America.com found Neoair weak relative to pricier cleaners they sell.

Consumers can avoid the underpowered air purifier trap, perhaps the single biggest disappointment in the business, by ignoring vendor and AHAM room size ratings.

So don’t expect this small air purifier to effectively clean a big bedroom.

Neoair has Multiple Filters

First, the Enviro’s washable pre-filter picks up larger particles of hair, insect fragments, and dust.

A true HEPA filter (99.97% at .3 micron) with an activated carbon component built in comes next.

The combined HEPA/carbon filter includes carbon measured in ounces, NOT pounds. Smoking and other polluted environments will require very frequent (60 days?) filter changes.

Enviro is also not going to be an effective chemical filter, and users should not install a machine like this where significant chemical pollution is suspected.

Few air purifiers in this very economical class can offer much chemical filtration.

A careful user review on amazon.com points out a major flaw in the design – lack of gaskets and seals to prevent bypassing – and notes fine dust accumulation beyond the HEPA filter. This user has taken to stuffing the cracks around the filter with folded sheets of paper.

I suggest substitution of polyester mesh, similar to prefilter material, available in department store air conditioning aisles, for this purpose. The loose seals are the secret to 68108’s low power consumption and noise emissions.

I would avoid tape-sealing the edges, for fear of burning up the motor.

But this is a value-priced product, few air purifiers below $200 are tightly sealed. Loose seals keep pressure drop low, reducing build costs and noise, and keeping cheap motors alive.

I recommend machines in the $350 and up area for allergy sufferers and the ill, most of these will not bypass health robbing fine particles.

Enviro’s next stage is Neoairs Organic Fiber Sterilization (OFS) germicidal filter, which is certified by independent labs (in China) as effective against most bacteria and molds.

Purifierideas.com, which sells the 68108 Neoair, had this to say:

“We tested it in our office basement and I could not believe on how effective it was against the molds.”

So far, Neoair looks like a fair under-$200 purifier, but there is more, both good and bad.

Enviro – Strong Ozone Free Ionizer

Enviro’s final stage is a low voltage (no arc), carbon fiber brush (not metal pins), negative ionizer.

With controversy raging about ozone spewing ionizers, here is an advanced product with zero ozone.

Cool. I have experimented with ionizers since 1977, and will not be without one.

One problem with many tack-on ionizers, added just for the sales value, is low power. Neoair’s Enviro offers a strong 3.5 million/cubic cm ion output. Low voltage, no electrical arching, no ozone, many ions: nice ionizer.

Automated Air Purifier: Enviro 68108

Neoair 68108s have a particle sensor which detects pollutants and controls the fan speed in response. The electronics boom in China has lowered the costs of these components to the point that this machine could be designed cheaply.

One user notes the sensor knows when baby needs fresh pampers.

Many people will not see the power inherent in automatic purification. Manual air cleaners are loud when they don’t need to be, wasting resources. Then they are turned down or off when air gets dirty.

Automated air purifiers idle quietly until they sense a need. This is so much smarter.

Neoair Enviro’s LED digital display shows air quality and ion output. A full function remote and timer are included.

Enviro’s filter timer displays a light when enough hours are accumulated to need new filters. The company says this will typically be about a year, but smoking or other pollution may shorten this. Neoair filters are economical, with a set of HEPA/carbon and OFS germicidal filters going for (still, after 5 years)about $45.

This gives the Neoair an annual maintenance cost ratio (filter cost to purchase price) over 4!

For those who are not regular readers, this is exceptional. Many inexpensive air cleaners are sold as loss leaders for high priced filter ripoffs.

Maintenance cost ratios under 1, where replacement filters cost more than the purifier, are common in less expensive products. Above 4 is very rare, Sharps and IQAirs, selling much higher, come to mind.

Neoair is Quiet

This bedroom purifier is quiet: 26dBA@135cfm on high.

Most people will sleep with 68108 on high.

With noise emissions at 12.74 dBA on low (inaudible) and 18.2 dBA in second gear, this is an air purifier which actually needs the lighted display so users can tell its running.

However, one Neoair user email reports lack of a night-dim feature:

“One feature I wish it had is an ability to dim the display for night/bedtime use as it lights up the room too much.”

Power consumption is low at 25 to 39 watts.

Good looking, very compact at 17.8″ x 8.4″ x 12″ and weighing only 10 pounds, this little engine is very portable.

Warranty, Company Info

Neoair Industries, LLC has its main distribution center in Miami, Florida. Neoair is a privately held company co-founded by prominent Illinois physician Dr. Keith I. Block.

Though a couple buyers reported slow response times, my calls to Neoair customer service and emails were answered promptly.

Neoair offers a 2 year warranty and will replace, not repair, defective units.

Because Neoair has zero retail store penetration, new filters are available only on-line.

As of Aug 2011, several websites and continue to offer both the purifiers and filter kits.

I like this small product’s modern features; automated, economical, ozone free, near silent, good looking, priced right.

But, before discussion of the quality issues with the Neoair 68108, I advise those with sensitivities or other serious health problems to consider higher priced models with quality seals and no fine particle bypassing.

Users find Neoair’s Faults

Real astute air-purifier-power readers will have noticed that Neoair 68108 is identical to the ADA681 Mutilayer Air Purifier.

This machine is built at the Ada Electrotech(xiamen) Co.,ltd. factory in Xiamen City, China, and shipped in intermodal containers to Florida.

see; http://www.airdow.com/

Now the folks at ADA shoot for zero-defect quality goals, but a certain percentage of defects get shipped.

Users in the US have discovered that the Neoair 68108 has a few issues, like any product made in, and shipped from, the bustling Chinese mainland.

The following problems have surfaced with the little import.

1). Filter smells are very common today, especially in value (under $200) air cleaners. Chemical break-in odors are widely reported, generally lasting from a few days to a week. It seems like these emanate from the OFS antibacterial filter, which some report removing to alleviate the odor.

2). Out of balance fans are also common with China-built machines, and the ADA product is no exception. One user emailed me to report an out of round fan which made a new Neoair too noisy to use.

3). A couple Amazon reviews mention burning smells and early motor burnout, common in inexpensive air cleaners.

4). One buyer of a 2010 model Neoair reported a defective control chip which kept auto mode on continuous high speed.

5). The ADA design features a fragrance and essential oil compartment, another feature (“aromatherapy“) which is popular in China, but controversial here. A button on the right top bubble opens a tray which reveals a scent cartridge “can.” Fortunately the sealed can must be opened before use.

Aromatherapy trays on air purifiers are NOT recommended here. Scent chemicals of all kinds disguise sometimes dangerous odors, and many are unhealthy themselves.

It is very common for Chinese air cleaner manufacturers to be in the air freshener business before developing an air purifier line, as ADA was. So these chemicals, representing an existing profit center, tend to get packaged into new products.

Conclusions: Enviro 68108

I think Neoair Enviro 68108 is better than its cheap Chinese built competition. For example, the Chinese built Hunter air purifiers are especially weak and failure prone. But with under-$200 imported air cleaners you will get what you paid for.

Neoair has a good warranty and will replace defective units, unlike many competitors.Air-Purifier-Power Rating Criteria

Each of ten factors gets up to 10 points, 100 is perfect and very unlikely.

1. First do no harm; minimal out gassing, no ozone.

Score: 7 of 10, thank you for not ozing, but loose the aromatherapy business please.

2. Serious gas and odor removal is a requirement if health benefits are expected: Units with real carbon VOC capability rank higher.

Score: 6 of 10, few under $200 have much VOC capability.

3. Quality construction; case, gaskets, seals, and precision fitting eliminate bypassing and assure high efficiency at filtering sub-micron particles.

Score: 5 of 10, weak seals, but evidence of tight build and efficiency rare under $200. Other quality issues consistent with China-built competitors.

4. The design maximizes the lifespan of each filter stage by allowing independent filter replacement. Ideally this is combined with electronic filter monitoring.

Score: 8 of 10, HEPA/carbon filters combined.

5. Unit has long filter life, low maintenance requirements, and reasonable operating costs.

Score: 8 of 10, no filter cost ripoff here.

6. Purifier produces low noise levels and meaningful air flow rates relative to noise.

Score: 9 of 10, Neoair does 28dBA @135cfm, now that’s quiet.

7. Manufacturer has a track record, with many units in the field and a reputation for supporting what they sell. Warranty period and average service life are long.

Score: 8 of 10, Neoair has lasted 6 years without the bad reputation some importers develop. Slow customer service but users report warranty is honored.

8. Purifier is a value in terms of price/performance ratio. Every price range should be included, “models above $1,200 are best”, while true, is not useful to most consumers.

Score: 8 of 10, despite numerous faults, a value packed air cleaner.

9. No dirt; unit and manufacturer should be devoid of class-action suits, high returns, recalls, consumer complaints, and legitimate negative consumer reviews.

Score: 7 of 10, Neoair corporate responded well to inquiries, some users report units replaced per warranty, but quality is what you’d expect for price and origin.

10. Unit is stylish, portable, comfortable, and convenient for consumer use.

Score: 10 of 10, handy remote, nice automated interface.

Neoair Enviro 68108 – Numeric Rating; 76.