Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering and Shipping

Returns and Warranties

General Questions About Air Purifiers

Operation and Maintenance of Air Purifiers

Air Purifier Applications

Technical Questions

Ordering and Shipping

A room air purifier sounds like a great idea. How do I make a purchase from you?

We offer two simple ways to make a purchase:

  • Order Online: Our website is enabled to process online orders for our most popular products directly via secure PayPal checkout. Simply add the items you wish to purchase to your shopping cart with the dropdown menus and Add to Cart buttons and proceed to Checkout when you are done. You do not need a PayPal account to use this service; you can simply use your credit card at checkout.
  • Order by Phone: Contact us by telephone to supply us with your payment information. We would also be happy to discuss your requirements, answer any questions you might have, provide additional information on our products, or offer recommendations as to which units are best for you.

Phone:  613-894-0331
Toll Free:  1-877-GO-7-PURE  (1-877-467-7873)
Email:  sales@modernalchemyair.com

Please do not send your credit card number to us by email.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and PayPal, along with Debit for in-person sales.

For large volume corporate and government sales, we offer terms of Net 30 days from date of invoice on approved credit.

Is my personal and financial information safe when I place an order through your website?

Our website uses a secure PayPal checkout cart featuring industry-leading encryption. Information you submit is encrypted as it is sent directly between your computer and the servers at PayPal. Security features include:

  • When registering or logging into PayPal’s site, they verify that your internet browser is running Secure Sockets Layer 3.0 (SSL) or higher.
  • All information you provide is protected in transit by SSL with an encryption key length of 128 bits (the highest level commercially available).
  • Your personal information stored on PayPal’s servers is heavily guarded, both physically and electronically. To further shield your credit card and bank numbers, PayPal does not directly connect their firewall-protected servers to the internet.
  • Your credit card and financial information is not shared with us, the merchant.

Do you ship your air purifiers anywhere in Canada?

Definitely!   We will ship anywhere in Canada or the contiguous United States.

How much does shipping cost?

We are currently offering Free Shipping on all Austin Air, Blueair, AllerAir and IQAir air purifiers in Canada and the contiguous United States. Offer excludes filters and accessories.

Shipping charges for our air purifiers vary depending on the size and weight of the unit ordered, the delivery destination and the shipping method. Typically, ground shipment charges are:

  • $20-$30 for small units
  • $40-$50 for regular units
  • $60-$80 for AllerAir D, DX, DS and MCS D models, and all IQAir GC Series air purifiers (shipped in 2 boxes)
  • $10-$40 for filters and accessories

Because shipping costs vary so greatly, we will inform you of the shipping charges before we collect payment. If purchasing online, shipping charges will be displayed in your shopping cart before proceeding to checkout.

How long will it take to receive my air purifier after I order it?

We stock some of our most popular brands and models, but due to the large variety of colours and styles available, most units we offer are shipped directly from the manufacturer. Typically, Austin Air products are shipped within 1 to 2 business days of placing your order, while AllerAir, Blueair and IQAir products are shipped in 2 to 4 business days. Depending on where the unit is being sent to, delivery is usually within a week of the shipping date.

Specialized units, custom carbon blends, certain colours and large quantities could take an additional week.

I live in the US. Why should I buy my air purifier from you?

Your order is shipped directly from one of our US distribution centres, so you don’t pay any state tax or duties on your purchase. We also offer free shipping to our customers in the US.

Note that our prices are quoted in Canadian funds. When you make a purchase, your credit card company will automatically convert the total purchase price to US dollars at the prevailing exchange rate. If you are paying by PayPal, you will be shown the converted price in US dollars before completing your order.

return to top

Returns and Warranties

Can I exchange or return my unit if I haven’t opened the box

Yes!   Whether you purchased a unit for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, you may exchange or return unopened products within 30 days of receipt, for a full refund (minus shipping charges). However, it is your responsibility to ship the unit back to us at your own expense.

What is your return policy if I try the unit and don’t like it?

Opened Austin Air and Blueair air purifiers can be exchanged or returned within 30 days for a full refund.

Opened AllerAir and IQAir air purifiers can also be exchanged or returned within 30 days, but are subject to a 25% restocking charge (based on the original purchase price, excluding taxes and shipping).

Note that it is your responsibility to ship the unit back to the manufacturer at your own expense and that all filters and accessories are considered final sale.

Please be aware that no returns or exchanges will be made on any products that have incomplete packaging, missing components, and/or units that have been cosmetically or otherwise damaged in any way.

For complete details on how to return an item, see Return Process

What is the warranty on the air purifiers you sell?

Our air purifiers come with some of the best warranties in the industry:

  • AllerAir – 10 years on all 4000, 5000, 6000 and AirMedic units, 5 years on all UV models, and 1 year on all AirTube units.
  • Austin Air – 5 years on all models.
  • Blueair – 5 years if registration card is sent to the manufacturer, 1 year otherwise. Note: Warranty is valid only if the recommended filter replacement schedule is followed (i.e., applicable filters are to be replaced every six months and purchased from an authorized dealer only).
  • IQAir – 5 years on all HealthPro units and 1 year on GC and GCX units, Cleanroom H13 and Dental Pro and Hg models.
  • Electrocorp – 1 year on all models.

return to top

General Questions About Air Purifiers

How large are the units?

We sell room air purifiers small enough to put on a night-table or desk, and portable enough to take with you to the cottage or on vacation to clean the air inside your hotel room. However, the typical room units we sell are about the size of a dehumidifier.

Air purifiers designed for specialized business and industrial use can be larger, depending on the model.

How much do they cost?

The high-quality air purifiers we sell here at Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers start from as little as $330.

I see air purifiers at my local hardware store selling for $100-$200. What’s the difference between them and the ones you sell?

In general, the cheaper units do not move large quantities of air through them because their motors are not powerful enough or because their inferior design allows air to bypass the filter. This results in drastically reduced air cleaning efficiency. In addition, depending on the amount of pollutants in the air, the small amount of carbon found in many substandard air purifiers can be depleted within weeks, making the unit useless.

Other major issues with low-cost units are reduced reliability, higher operating costs, difficulties in finding replacement filters, and in some cases, toxic off-gassing or ozone production.

More about substandard products and the Modern Alchemy Difference

Do you sell any used air purifiers at reduced prices?

On rare occasions when a unit is returned to us or we decide to sell one of our demo models, we would offer it at a reduced selling price. These units would come with a full warranty. Please visit Promotions & Specials or contact us to inquire about availability.

Are air purifiers only available in boring colours like white and black?

Absolutely not!   Even through some people prefer to have their air purifier in a neutral colour, many models we offer are available in a number of different colours to match practically any décor, from elegant sandstone or silver, to bolder colours from AllerAir like red, copper and pewter. We even offer blue and pink units from Austin Air for the baby’s room!

How will I know if my air purifier is actually removing harmful contaminants from the air?

Although air purification is generally an invisible operation, through the use of a particle counter or professional air quality assessment, we can see that the number of particles or level of toxins in room air is dramatically reduced after using a high-quality air purifier to clean the air.

In addition, looking at a pre-filter or HEPA filter after long-term use can provide you with visual evidence that contaminants have been captured (especially if you have a pet or a smoker in the house!).

If I purchase an air purifier from you, does that mean I don’t have to dust or vacuum anymore?

NO!   By running a room air purifier constantly, you can significantly reduce the amount of airborne dust in a room, but you still have to vacuum and dust on a regular basis to pick up the particles that have settled.

return to top

Operation and Maintenance of Air Purifiers

Can I leave my air purifier on all the time

Yes!   The air purifiers we sell are designed and built for continuous use. In fact, we encourage customers to leave their air cleaner on at all times to achieve the healthiest living environment possible.

What impact will running an air purifier have on my electricity bill?

Although it will depend on the model chosen and the setting that you run it at, a typical air purifier should cost less than a penny (0.7 cents) per hour to operate, or about 17 cents a day if you run it constantly.

Are air purifiers noisy?

Because powerful motors are used to draw air into the unit and force it through the HEPA filter, high-quality portable room air purifiers can be fairly noisy on their ‘High’ setting. The first time that you turn the unit on, it might seem rather loud to you. However, because the unit creates “white noise,” much like the noise made by your furnace, air conditioner or refrigerator, most people stop noticing the sound within a couple of days.

Also, some people run their bedroom units on the highest fan speed during the day and turn it down to a lower setting when they are sleeping.

If noise issues are a major concern, we recommend purchasing a Blueair air purifier. With their innovative HEPASilent™ technology, Blueair units are able to effectively clean the air at much lower decibel levels.

Are the air purifiers you sell complicated to use?

Definitely not!   For most of the air purifiers we sell, you simply plug the unit into an electrical outlet, turn it on, and set the fan speed you desire. Nothing could be easier!

Should I purchase a unit whose specifications match my exact room dimensions?

Actually, we recommend buying a unit designed to clean the air in a larger room. This way, you can operate the air purifier at a lower fan speed setting and have it run more quietly.

Where should I place my air purifier in the room?

To achieve maximum effectiveness and performance, the unit should be placed at least 4 inches from the wall (12 inches for IQAir models).

What maintenance is required to keep my air purifier performing at peak efficiency?

The maintenance schedule varies depending on the unit selected and the concentration of contaminants in the air. For Austin, AllerAir and IQAir air purifiers:

  • Pre-Filters – can either be vacuumed occasionally or changed every 3 to 4 four months. IQAir pre-filters should be replaced every 6 to 18 months.
  • HEPA Filters – should generally be changed every 2 to 5 years.
  • Activated Carbon – is usually replaced every 2 to 5 years (or 1 to 3 years for IQAir models).
  • UV Lamps – if applicable, should be changed every year.

All Blueair air purifiers require replacement of applicable filters once every 6 months (and purchased from an authorized Blueair dealer) for the warranty to be valid.

Is it difficult to change the filters?

Not at all!   The filters can be changed in a matter of minutes. Most units simply open with a screwdriver to allow you to pull out the old filter and insert the new one in its place.

How expensive are the components that need to be changed?

Here’s where our expertise can help you select an air purifier that will not only offer outstanding performance, but also be more cost effective to operate in the long-term. Replacement filters in low-priced models sold in department and hardware stores can cost almost as much as the unit itself and need to be changed much more frequently than the filters used in the high-quality units that we sell. Here’s an example:

A typical budget unit might sell for anywhere from $100-$200. Not even taking their poor performance into account, the filters can cost almost $100 to replace and need to be changed every year.

For the AllerAir 5000 Exec, one of Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers’ most popular models, the filter costs are about $70 per year. This includes:

  • Pre-filter – $0, if vacuumed occasionally
  • HEPA filter every 5 years – $110 (or $22 per year)
  • Activated carbon canister every 3 years – $143 (or $48 per year)

Over a five-year period, that’s a savings of $150 over the department store model!

If your unit is equipped with an optional UV lamp, these sell for $60-$180, depending on the unit and lamp wattage.

Please note that the above examples are for air purifiers recommended for residential, office and general business use. For specialized business and industrial air purifiers, the associated costs may be higher.

With my busy schedule, how am I supposed to remember when to change the filters in my air purifier?

By joining Modern Alchemy's free Filter Replacement Reminder Program, you can relax knowing that we will send you an email when it’s time to change a component in your AllerAir or Austin Air unit. If you are the proud owner of an IQAir or Blueair air purifier, the machine itself will tell you when it’s time to replace a filter! Best of all, we can ship the proper replacement product to you to save you even more time and effort.

return to top

Air Purifier Applications

Will an air purifier make my allergies or asthma go away?

Unfortunately there are no cures for asthma and allergies, but many people have found that these conditions can be improved by the use of high-quality room air purifiers throughout the house, as one part of a complete allergy or asthma management program.

Can an air purifier help to improve the air quality in my baby’s room?

Yes!   We recommend the Austin Air Baby's Breath, a small and quiet unit that not only eliminates harmful contaminants from the air your baby is breathing, but even comes in pink or blue!

How can I protect myself from bacteria, viruses and mould spores?

A safe germicidal UVC lamp can be added to all AllerAir air purifiers (except the AirMedic Exec) to help capture and eliminate airborne bacteria, viruses and mould spores.

As an alternative, you might consider an IQAir HealthPro Series air purifier. With IQAir's patented HyperHEPA™ filtration system, even the smallest airborne bacteria and viruses are captured by the HEPA filter.

I love my pet, but my partner is allergic. Would an air purifier help us?

An air purifier alone can never completely remove dog dander, bird feather dust, cat allergens or general pet odours, but operating a specialized unit like the Austin Air Pet Machine can significantly reduce the allergen triggers in the air, making it possible for pet lovers and allergy sufferers to cohabitate.

Will an air purifier help to eliminate the mould growing on my basement walls?

An air purifier with a UV lamp (available as an option on almost all AllerAir units) could help to reduce the amount of mould spores, microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) and mould mycotoxins (harmful toxins produced by some moulds) in your basement. However, it will not remove the mould that is currently on your walls.

Can an air purifier eliminate the smell and harmful effects of tobacco smoke?

Removing the source directly is always the best method to eliminate tobacco smoke, but if the smoker doesn’t want to smoke outside, there are specifically designed units that can help to remove odours and adsorb some of the harmful chemicals found in second-hand tobacco smoke. Units like the AllerAir 5000 DS Exec are specifically designed to deal with tobacco smoke issues.

An air purifier can also help in cases where smoke is entering your residence through the duct-work of an attached dwelling (e.g., town-homes, semi-detached houses, condos and apartments).

I have MCS. How can I ensure that the carbon in the air purifier will not affect my health before I purchase it?

We recommend purchasing an AllerAir Carbon Test Kit from us. This contains five different carbon blends that you can test to determine which is most suitable for you, helping to ensure that the activated carbon does not have any ill-effects on your health.

If you then decide to purchase one of our MCS specialty units (like our top-of-the-line AllerAir AirMedic+ MCS D), we will gladly reduce the selling price by the cost of the kit.

I find that food odours linger in my house for days. Will an air purifier help?

Proper ventilation is always the best way to remove cooking odours from your home, but operating a room air purifier with large amounts of activated carbon can help to control the odours you are experiencing.

Can I use an air purifier to get rid of dust and odours in my husband's basement workshop?

By operating one of our high-quality room air purifiers, airborne dust particles will be captured by the filters and odours will become trapped and neutralized by the activated carbon, thus helping to alleviate the problems you are experiencing. We can even recommend specialized units to handle specific chemical fumes or workbench models that help to remove harmful pollutants directly at the source.

People at the office drive me crazy with weird-smelling food and heavy perfume. Could an air purifier help?

By operating one of our small, quiet, personal desktop air purifiers like the AllerAir AirTube Exec, you can create and maintain a protected area or “bubble” around you, where contaminants and odours would have difficulty entering because you are continuously pushing clean air out into your work space.

return to top

Technical Questions

What is HEPA?

A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is a tightly woven medium made from glass fibres that are pleated to maximize surface area for particle collection. HEPA filters are the most effective systems available for capturing fine particulate matter. True HEPA filters are capable of removing 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns (invisible to the naked eye) from the air we breathe.

Are all activated carbon filters the same?

No!   Activated carbon can be enhanced, impregnated and/or blended to more effectively handle the adsorption of specific chemicals and odours. For example, the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb air purifiers we sell have a larger and more refined blend of activated carbon and will do a much better job of removing harmful airborne Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

Does it matter how much activated carbon there is?

Yes!   Activated carbon adsorbs to its surface, so when it reaches saturation level, it is depleted of its capability to be effective and must be replaced. Large amounts of activated carbon will last far longer than smaller amounts because it has a greater area for adsorption.

Depending on the amount of pollutants in the air, the small amount of carbon found in many substandard air purifiers can be depleted within weeks, making the unit useless. We can supply you with an air purifier that contains one of the largest amounts of activated carbon available on the market today, which can last from 18 to 36 months.

What is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)?

Volatile Organic Compounds are molecular gases such as formaldehyde, dichloromethane and benzene that are extremely dangerous for your health. Modern Alchemy Air Purifiers offers selected units like the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb, the Austin Air HealthMate Plus and the IQAir GC Series designed with specially-blended carbon to specifically deal with VOC’s.

What is a D.O.P. test?

D.O.P. stands for Dispersed Oil Particulate. Intended for the performance testing of HEPA filters, this test (originally referred to as a Di-Octyl Phthalate test), introduces an exceedingly dense cloud of sub-micronic particulate into the dirty side of the filter undergoing testing. The clean side is then viewed against a dark background where the slightest seepage of smoke can be clearly observed.

What does MCS stand for?

MCS stands for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a form of Environmental Illness (EI), caused by living in a toxic world. People with MCS feel uncomfortable or sick in the presence of specific odours. Chemicals such as pesticides, synthetic fragrances, cleaning products and detergents can all affect someone with MCS. We offer specialized air purifiers that can reduce many of the chemical fumes and odours from indoor air to help people living with MCS breathe easier.

air purifier questions

More Questions? Contact Us

return to top