Customer Reviews

Oreck XL Professional Air Purifier

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

When I originally reviewed this product I gave it three stars. After using the product for over a year now I would take away two of those stars if I could.

I purchased three Oreck purifiers at the same time and notice very little difference in the air quality in my home.

Things I like:
The "silent" mode is great for sleeping (when the unit isn't popping and snapping). The design is attractive.

Things I don't like:
1) The rapid popping/snapping sound (like a bug zapper) the units make when the cell starts getting dirty. As another reviewer wrote - the rapid popping scared his poor dog so badly that it wet the floor. The noise is VERY annoying. You either clean it right away or turn it off because the snapping persists until something is done. Oreck recommends thorough cell cleaning every two weeks, but between the three units I have to do "quick cleanings" on at least one of them almost every day. Quick cleaning requires pulling the main cell and running a Q-Tip over the wires in front of the collection plates.

2) The Oreck infomercial misrepresents the product; the consumer pays a healthy price for this purifier believing there will be no additional costs associated with the purchase. They advertise "No Filter Replacement" - yet there is an "optional" charcoal odor absorbing filter that does need to be replaced if the unit is used to control odors. The cost of that filter at the Oreck site is $49.99.

According to my local Oreck store, the cell doesn't get real clean if only soaked in soapy water. The "optional" cell cleaner is strongly recommended to optimize the cell performance and extend the cell life. Each can of cell cleaner is $14.99. The local Oreck store recommended cleaning with cell cleaner, soaking in soapy water, and then cleaning again with more cell cleaner.

3) The collection plates in the main cell don't hold a lot of dust, and the odor absorbing filter is too small to catch much. I question how much dust is being pumped back into the air after it is "purified."

*Note: Several reviewers have suggested I use the units in extreme conditions. However, I live in a brand new residence; I don't smoke and have three cats so the operating conditions are far from extreme.

14 MONTH UPDATE:
After using the units for about 14 months, two of the three original machines I purchased died and are happily disposed of. The one remaining unit seems to be working well and actually goes weeks without popping and snapping. I no longer purchase the Oreck cell cleaner, following the advice of another reviewer I now use Clorox Cleanup.

I replaced one of the failed Oreck units with a Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier. I replaced the second failed Oreck with the Honeywell 18155 SilentComfort Permanent, True HEPA Air Purifier - this unit is quiet and works so well I purchased two of them. They are all larger floor models that require some space, but they outperform the Oreck units in every way, and are a great value at Amazon. The charcoal pre-filters cost $9.00 to $10.00 to replace and are well worth it when I see the garbage the Honeywell pulls out of the air.

I didnt buy this from Amazon, I bought it directly from Oreck about 3 yrs ago. The main reason why I think you should not buy this is because of the trouble cleaning it. It is practically impossible to get it clean of tar. I bought this primarily to clean the air of cigarette smoke. The late night commercials I saw before purchasing this showed people just rinsing it under water and they were done. WOW I wish! I paid full price a few years ago ( I think I actually paid 500$ and was supposed to get a free small vac with it, I never received the Vac). I have tried just about every thing to clean the tar out of the collector cell, for example bathroom cleaners of all sorts, laundry detergent, oven cleaner, degreaser. I have tried soaking the cell all day in hot water and with full strength cleaning products, and even tried washing the cell in the dishwasher, but nothing works very well. And you cant use a cloth to clean between the fin's of the collector cell because of some hair thin wires and the very close spacing of the fins.
This air cleaner works ok when brand new, but cleaning this thing is a major pain, because you also have to completely dry the cell(as mentioned in the manual or you could damage the unit), I use a fan to help dry the cell after cleaning, and it takes all day because there are places on the cell where water gets in that are covered. As other reviewers have mentioned the cell HAS to be cleaned OFTEN, or else you get the very loud bug zapper noises(and sparks) that get worse and worse the dirtier it gets.
Humidity also affects the unit, the more humid it is the more it makes the zapping and electrical buzzing sounds.
I actually came here to the Amazon website to look for a new air cleaner, and I saw this model for sale, and I felt I had to give a review. I dont usually bother giving reviews(I think I am going to start giving more reviews because of this thing), and I hardly ever return items but I wish I could return this, it was a big waste of money and TIME trying to clean it. I have learned to always look at product reviews by other customers (like this one) before making a purchase if at all possible. Hopefully this helps someone else with making a decision between products.

I bought 2 of these at the same time, one for each floor of my house. Paid top dollar also, as these units are expensive.

Problems:
1. The cells cannot be cleaned no matter what you do. I 1st tried the soap/water.....cells still dirty. I then was scammed into buying their foam cleaner......2 bottles of it. Still didn't clean the cells. Then I tried soap/water, then cleaner, then soap/water. Didnt work at all. On top of that, the foam cleaner bottle is empty after a few cleanings. Extremely expensive!!!

Here is an easier way to imagine these cells. If you've ever had an Ionic Pro, or something with blades that needed cleaning, you know that you have to put manual force into them, along with some serious household cleaners. Now imagine trying to clean them with NO manual force. Impossible.

2. When you give up and put the 90% dirty cell back in. It will snap/pop/crackle after a day or two. And it is extremely loud! Enough to wake you up or overpower a movie with surround sound.

This is an extremely flawed product that should have never been on the market. I'm surprised that an authority on business practices hasn't looked into this.

When I saw a few of the good reviews, I had to speak up. I'm not going to allow sockpuppets mislead other people.

Four years ago, I suddenly developed allergies. The allergies caused severe breathing problems (I couldn't draw a full deep breath without effort) and because of the allergies, I also has chest pains whenever the breathing issues started. While I did start daily medication, I found that the symptoms frequently overrode the medicine. My allergist recommended an air purifier for my home. A friend recommended Oreck, and I went to a local Oreck store for my purchase. I ended up buying the silver tabletop model and a tower floor model. I have a two story home, and I use the tower model on the first floor (1800 sq ft) and the table top on the second floor (800 sq ft). Both units covers their respective areas without problems.

The units come fully assembled and ready to use. Just take them home and plug them in. I purchased them one evening, and by the next morning, I could tell a huge difference in my breathing within my house. The models are quiet and unobtrusive. You can hear them running, but its background noise like your refrigerator or air conditioner would make. They're sleekly designed and don't stand out, however, the table top models are large, so they do take up some space. I use my tabletop model in my bedroom, and it sits on top of my dresser and pretty much covers the whole top.

Both units contain what Oreck calls a Truman cell, and this cell is what cleans the air. The air passes first through a screen, then through the Truman cell, and finally, through a carbon filter. All three of these parts remove easily for cleaning. The Truman Cell should be cleaned with Oreck Cell cleaner. One can of cleaner will set you back $15, but you can clean your cell five times with it (I spray one end of the cell, let it set for five minutes and rinse, then turn it over and spray the other side and let it set for five minutes, then rinse the whole cell thoroughly, then I set the units in front of a table top fan to dry). The units comes with a red indicator light that shows when the unit needs to be cleaned. The unit usually averages needing cleaning every two to three weeks.

The units are so easy to clean and disassemble. The Truman cell lifts out, the carbon filter lifts out and the screen lifts out. All of that filters the air before it blows through the motor and out the top of the unit through the adjustable fins (tabletop model). If you properly clean the Truman cell and the screen, you can blow out the carbon filter with canned air, and the unit will run perfectly until it needs cleaning again. I also take a damp paper towel and wipe the unit down as it does get covered in fine particles (almost like a powder). Once a year, I take both units to the Oreck store for cleaning. My tower model came with five free yearly cleanings, and my tabletop came with none. Last time I checked, the cleanings cost $39, and they replace the carbon filter when they clean the unit.

Oreck guarantees all their units for years (different periods of time for different units), but anything that goes wrong they will fix without question during that period. I've had both of my units for four years now. The tabletop model has been totally problem free. The tower has had the Truman cell replaced once and has one wire on the Truman cell replaced...both times without charge or fuss.

These units saved me, literally. Once the purifiers started running, all, and I mean ALL of the symptoms left. Yeah, the machines have to be kept clean, and the cell cleaner costs a lot, but being able to easily breath in my own home is worth it.

Despite what you read, this is very easy to clean. It's also extremely efficient at removing all particulate sizes. It has three fan settings, and only "high" is too loud for me. To clean, vacuum off the obvious dust from the unit. Take out the cell and blow it off with compressed air. Spray it with whatever cleaner you like (409 etc) and then run it through the dishwasher. Spray it again with compressed air to dry it. Pay attention to crevices.

That's it. Works very well. I recommend it. In fact, I have Honeywell version attached to my furnace for whole-house cleaning and it works the same way, cleans the same way and I no longer have to buy furnace filters.

Nice thing about this technology is that it is capable of precipitating out smells as well as the smallest particulates. Paper filters just start to stink.

I am completely baffled by the low "stars" given to the Oreck air purifiers.
I purchased my first Oreck XL about 3 years ago, and it works fantastic!
Recently, we purchased a second one, which is a "stand-up/or/ table top top model.... with a "permanent filter". The Oreck XL has a washable filter and a filter that should be replaced about once a year.

I smoke. Occasionally my husband smokes cigars. Both of these units completely suck ever bit of smoke and smoke odor out of the air.

I read some of the negative reviews. One person complained about the "popping and snapping" noise it makes.
Yes, the Oreck purifier will make this annoying sound if something large (like a fly or moth) gets sucked into the unit.
To fix this problem, I simply vacuum the bug-out.

Another reason for the "popping or snapping" noise is: If you wash the filter, and it is not completely dry, it will make this noise.
You have two options to fix this problem.
#1. let the filter dry longer. (wash before going to bed, and let it sit over-night on your counter).
#2. If your in a hurry, use a blow-dryer (SET ON NO HEAT)... it will dry completely in about 15 minutes.
(when you put the filter back in.... don't forget to press the reset button... and let it blink 3 times... then release the button).

Smoke from Cigars or Cigarettes does leave a "sticky" residue on the "washable" filter. After about one month the machine filter does gets very dirty.
To clean... First, I put the filter in the sink and spray it thoroughly with very warm water .... until I see no more dirt or grime come out of the filter. (takes about 1 minute).

Next, soak the filter for about 1 hour, (in the sink or a bucket with very warm soapy water). Next, dump the dirty water. Rinse the filter again.
Next, spray the filter with Oreck Air Purifier Cell Cleaner (retails for about 14 dollars a can) and lasts for about 6 cleanings... or 6 months.
This Oreck "spray" cleaner works great to remove "sticky" tar from the washable filter.
Spray the "cleaner" directly into the filter... then let the "cleaner" soak in the filter for about 7-10 minutes. Next... rinse thoroughly.. and let dry.

For nearly a month, all the rooms in my home smell amazingly clean!
*Remember... do not shut off the machine. Always leave it running on "low/silent mode" and with "Air Revitalizer" turned-on. (Low setting is fine).
*Also remember,... after a party, turn the Oreck up to "high" for about an hour. (or overnight if you want to go to bed).
Also, make sure the "Air Revitalizer" is always turned ON. (low setting is fine).

For me... cleaning these Oreck Air purifiers at the beginning of each month is a very small price to pay (in effort) for a very fresh smelling home.

If the above suggestions do not work for you.... there is something wrong with your machine.
Take it to an Oreck store. They will fix it or replace it for FREE!

Over the years, I have asked friends or relatives (when they enter my home) if they smell any smoke or cigar odor.
They always say "no". And are amazed how fresh the air inside our home smells.
And remember, if you often have big parties ... and several smokers... you will have to clean the filter sooner.
Hope this post was helpful.

My unit is only two months old and does not work properly. Also the so called Truman Cell in the Oreck Air Purifier is extremely difficult to clean. The cleaning process is not simple. Do not be fooled by the commercial which is very misleading. Their customer service is extremely poor as well. They offer to sell you cleaner as a solution to your problem. The red light on my unit continues to blink, which means there is a problem, even after I follow the instructions given by customer service. The procedure given by customer service is not explained in the instructions or on the commercial. The cleaning process requires you to dry the cell for 24 hours before you can put the cell back into the unit and use the air purifier, this after you soak it for 30 minutes. I tried this several times which has not worked. Their solution is for me to take the unit to a Oreck store to be checked out. Oreck will not honor their warranty which they claim is 3 years. You need to consider this before you purchase the product.

I bought a couple of these last year for I have some health problems that require me to be in a clean air environment. These have been great they really do a good job I leave mine on highest speed all the time which is noisy but when it comes to breathing fresh air this is well worth it. It does make some snapping sounds just before you need to clean it. This just lets me know that they need cleaning. I clean my cells with Clorox clean up cleaner I just squirt them then use hot water and the job is done. the only thing is that when it comes to drying the cell before using it it takes a while but this is my only complaint

Bought this reconditioned from Oreck. After about 3 months I should have returned it,the air quality had not improved and I'm not impressed with it. Had originally thought I'd buy a brand new one for my bedroom but after my experience with the first one I decided against it.

I caution any buyer of Oreck products to be very careful about believing the sales claims, If you get it and don't like it you'd better return it in less than 5 days. I bought a power scrubber never opened the box and went into the hospital for several weeks and was unable to return the unit. When I called their customer service department they said I gone past the 30 day return time and although I could (and will) return the unit I will have to pay $130 "restocking fee" plus return shipping at my expense. A very costly return considering I was in the hospital and never took the unit out of the box. All they have to do is stick on a new address label and off it will go to someone else.

I will (personally) not buy any more Oreck products, I only encourage YOU to be very careful and not wait very long before returning the product if that's what you decide to do. Customer service is not very friendly, nor helpful nor understanding. It's horrible being 65 and living alone with no one to do the calls and returns when you're incapacitated.

I have three of these units, bought for allergy control. Fell for the slick advertising infomercial and been kicking myself ever since. Filters are a joke, expensive and ineffective. Even running two units in a bedroom will not work. The Truman cell is almost impossible to clean. Save your money and spend it on high quality HEPA air filters if you have a HVAC system. If not, purchase something that has thick HEPA filter media that is actually proven to work. Don't wait for it to get better, it won't, it will only get worse and turn into a glorified dust bunny zapper.