Question from JP
My doctor prescribed an Austin Air for my MCS in 2005. It emitted a yeast-like smell, but I thought it was normal. Then, I purchased a smaller Austin Air and the air was mega fresh. I could tell instantly when I shut it off for a few hours and then turned it back on. So, I ordered another one, plus a filter for my original unit. Every single one them are now emitting a yeast-like smell. So, I purchased a Dyson air purifier and it worked like a charm, so I purchased another one. Every Dyson filter I have order in the past two years emit the same yeast-like smell. Has anyone ever complained about yeast-like smells? I’m wondering if that means the filters are old and have been sitting on the shelf for too long? I recently ordered an EnviroKlenz purifier and it emitted a strong odor and now it seems to be fine. I put it in my garage because I have a piece of new furniture that is off gassing, and the purifier is not helping. I’ve spent thousands of dollars and I’m losing hope. 🙁 Any suggestions or ideas?
Lisa’s Answer
Readers, has anyone else had this experience? Any suggestions?
You can read more about air purifiers in my Portable Air Purifier Buying Guide.
I just got an Austin Air Healthmate+. I have tried to run it for the last week, but make the room smell like burning plastic. I can handle it. It makes me dizzy, and gives me a terrible headache. Sadly, I think I may need to return it.
Austin air filters will emit a strong offensive odor when it needs to be changed. Approx 3-5 yrs. However, I no longer can tolerate their healthmate filters (potassium) due to the awful sweet smell. I changed them to the allergy filters. Many people have same complaint on healthmate filter odor.
Hi,
Are you referring to the potassium permanganate as having a sweet smell?I’m investigating air purifiers and most companies use that as an add on- especially for VOCs. I have concerns about it.
I had the same problem with my dyson pure hot and cool. I bought it for my newborns bedroom. At first I thought the smell was his poop, but it became almost unbearable. Then I realized it was air purifier. I call dyson, and they said they’ve never heard of that before – that I’m making it up. Thinking I was crazy, I let it run for another week expecting it to go away. I tried another machine, a new filter, but it rendered the room unlivable. I don’t know what I was thinking, exposing my newborn to it. I’m horrified to think what kind of damage it may have caused him. He had intense sensory issues in his first year and is just starting to recover from them now at 2. I always wondered if that offgassing chemical, or whatever it was, was to blame. (Note my son was maybe 2 months old at the time, so I wasn’t still experiencing sensitivity to smells).
Austin air purifiers smell sweet to me. As in, when they are on, the room smells sweet. That might be the smell you’re referring to? I think it’s the type of carbon and carbon treatment they use.
Their air purifiers also unfortunately make me really sick – I’m sensitive to the filter I think.
I use IQ air GC multigas. They are great and make a HUGE difference in our home air quality. I’ve tried a few purifier brands and this is the best unit I’ve found. I did offgass them for a couple hours when I first got them, as I’d do with any purifier.
I called Barb from the US Air Purifiers website and she was great. Highly recommend. Super knowledgeable about the differences between the brands and units, which filters have what type of carbon and which chemical treatments. She has a lot of customers with MCS (including me) so she could answer all my questions.