Rainbow Air purifier mode.

[cam2s]

I acquired a two speed rainbow a while back, I had wanted a two speed so I could use the air purifier mode all the time. I have allergies and sinus problems and using it to vacuum is wonderful so why not let it run all the time. The problem is now that I have one the low speed on my unit seems to be quite loud. I normally don’t mind a bit a white noise, I usually always sleep with a fan on, but i the sound of the rainbow on low seems to bother me. I know the switched reluctance motor sounds different that a brushed motor. It makes a groaning sound on startup, but on high power sounds like any other machine. I don’t know how to describe it but the low speed just has an odd tambre to the sound of the motor and not to mention the sound of the water gurgling. Just curious to see what others experience and perceptions are with the two speed machines.

Cameron

 

[mark40511]

All I can say is

I agree with you. I have a gold 2 speed and use it all the time and LOVE it. I never use it at low speed. I feel like it basically does nothing because of not enough air movement. But, the sound is very whiny and pitched on low. I can't stand it... But if you're really cleaning and dusting everything high/low on high speed...You got most of the dust anyway.....so really no need for air cleaning. But that's just me. Others on here that have them use them 24/7. I once left mine on for a full day and there was nothing in the water. I'm like, what's the point?

 

[tekjunkie28]

I have a rainbow and its just collecting dust. It's a fairly useless machine overall except for the mop. I really do like the mop but vacuuming is so so and suction is meh. The fact that rainbow even sales the unit advertised as an air purifier is beyond logical sense. The E2 black is certified got an area the size of my half bath. I like rainbows but not for the money or the cleaning performance but for the concept.

If you have allergies there are MUCH better and cheaper ways to fix that. First you need to seal up air leaks in the home. Second you should fine a qualified HVAC contractor that also does Indoor air quality and have then do any modification that will allow you to use merv 11 or higher filters without compromising the unit. I recommend merv 13 at a minimum though and like to see merv 14. At those ratings the filter thickness should be 4 inches or so. Honeywell also makes return filter grille filters that will work also. In the mean time you will get more benefit from a actual air purifier than a rainbow. The biggest issue with a rainbow in air purifier mode is just that it have absolutely no air flow. Their is more air leaking in and out of your house than the rainbow is able to filter. Tighten up the building enclosure and filter the air in there and if need be get a ERV unit. Not only will you be allergen free but you will end up saving quite a bit of money on heating and cooling.

 

[dysonman1]

I have an E2 Black. We use it on Low speed 24/7 in our bedroom from the end of October through April. It never shuts off except when I scrub the pan. I use distilled water, and overfill the pan by at least 2 inches above the post. I use a cap of germicide (the Rainbow D & A formula). It humidifies (and cleans) the air as it runs constantly. We sleep with our bedroom door closed. We never wake up with a dry mouth and I've not had a cold or the flu in years. I believe it's because we are breathing the aerosolized tri-ethylene glycol. I don't use my Rainbow for cleaning house, because I want a clean and spotless machine to wash and humidify my bedroom air. I use many other vacuums to clean with (the awesome and powerful Ritello at the present time). I add more water daily, so I know how much water it is evaporating. I runs through about a half gallon per day. More water, more germicide. I know I could use a humidifier, but it wouldn't aerosolize the D &A formula.

 

[tekjunkie28]

IA the D and A even healthy got for you to breath in? How do you know its actually evaporating. I have fish tank and no chemicals evaporate out of them enough to make a difference.

 

[juju93]

I have the SRX and it does a good job on speed 2 for air purification as for speed 1 I feel like it’s not doing as much air purifying as speeds 2&3. I do have a question about the mop attachment. Can we use other products other than the clean floor solution that’s recommended, if so what products can be use with the RainJet attachment.

 

[kirboover]

My preference

I used to have a rainbow, I mainly bought it for low speed, because in my opinion rainbows are bulky and cumbersome to do the type of cleaning I like to do. But, when I got it (used) it was so loud I could not stand it. So, now I use a filter queen on low speed for filtration. Long story short, I am not really a rainbow guy.( P.s. The filter queen also has a great motor sound)

 

[vacuumdevil]

Even on low speed you're using at least twice as much electricity as something like a blueAir.

But anything is better than nothing when it comes to allergies.

 

[rivstg1]

I'm partly a rainbow guy as I have 2 now & have had one since 1999. I never saw dirty water ...at all really, when using it on low speed "cleaning" the air. I hear some say it works so well there...but, did you fellas have noticeable dust etc in the water when using it as a air cleaner?

 

[joshp83]

I've used a Rainbow in the low-speed air cleaner mode off and on a lot since ~2006, and rarely see anything for visible dirt in the water. That never surprised me, since most airborne dust is so small, and low speed operates at such a low CFM anyway.
For comparison- If your average HEPA air purifier can operate at a higher CFM than a low speed Rainbow and generate only a small amount of visible debris over, say, a month's worth of use, it seems reasonable that the water in a Rainbow isn't likely to be very visibly dirty after running for something like 2 days before being dumped and changed.