Air Purifier GO!

Selecting what type of air filtration system that you want to use in your home really is a balancing act. You see, the technology that's available now allows you to go pretty much as far as you want, but in the end it all costs money. That is the higher volume of air that you want clean, and the cleaner you want it to be, the more it's going to cost you.

Try to understand that the tighter and more exacting the particle removal specifications are on the filter, the more resistance it or they are going to put on the airflow. So the more powerful your machine will have to be. Take your time and look all your options over before you make any final decision because over a years time the cost of filters can add up to a substantial amount of money.

Still one more thing to keep in mind as you compare how long any given disposable filter will last, is that really that type of information is highly speculative. How well is your home sealed up for instance, and do you live in the city or out in the country along a dusty road? Then again how clean do you need to have your air? So a three month air filter for one person can turn out to be a one month filter for another.

Ionic Breeze Filters

Ionic Breeze air purifiers use what is called “ionic technology” to filter out suspended particles from the air. It's a system of electrically charged metal plates that in fact function like “dust magnets” to electrically charge then attract and grab onto suspended particles that flow over them. So these are tall “standing tower” designs that never need replacement filters.

Instead the metal plates are periodically removed, wiped down or held under running water, and then replaced back in the machine. Do be aware though that while these systems can remove particles at or below .03 microns they tend to have some of the lower trap percentage rates. On the plus side though they are very quiet, and energy efficient.

Honeywell Air Purifier Filters

There are few things about Honeywell air purifier filters worth mentioning, and one of them is what they have done with the tower air purifier. Once pretty much exclusively available only as an ionic system, Honeywell now has several models that operate with conventional filter technology as well as a few models that combine ionic and conventional filters into one system.

Their round barrel designs in a handful of Honeywell models have also become very popular since they were introduced. Amazing amounts of filter square footage is folded up in an “accordion fashion” in these wrap around filters that have no side edges to leak. Instead because they are round they compression seal tightly with rubber gaskets on the top and bottom.

Holmes Air Purifier Filters

Holmes air purifiers are different in the low actual cost of their average unit and the vast diversity that they offer in their filter selection. Even if you don't end up going with a Holmes unit, they're well worth reading about just to pour over all that they offer. So many filter types for such affordable machines. Even humidifying filters and a machine with an actual nanny camera, and DVD recorder built into it.

So let there be no doubt about it but that the target market for this company is “filter fanatics”. People for whom the standard three, one, or two stage system just won't do. Yet who at the same time don't want to spend more than $200 for the actual unit. They're a filter company that offers the actual air purifiers as a sideline, so they have little if anything in the way of reusable filters.

Hunter Air Purifier Filters

Hunter is another company that gained a reputation for selling affordable air purifiers that required expensive filters, and it has gotten even worse with some of the models they discontinued from their QuietFlo line. In fact believe it or not you can now buy some models online for less than it costs to pay for new filters for the machine, which is a bit odd to say the least.

If a hepa filter system is what you're after. Or perhaps a system that combines a hepa filter with a pre-filter, carbon odor filter, and ultraviolet air sterilization technology is what you have in mind? they have it. It's their newer tower models that offer so many new combinations, ranging from a lower priced simple one filter unit, to something like what's listed above. A more powerful system that combines multiple air scouring technologies.

Sharper Image Filters

Sharper Image really doesn’t have anything in the way of air purifiers or replacement filters that would fall into the “affordable”, or low end category. Now they do have a few micro models but anyone who knows anything about air cleaners knows that small battery powered or wall socket units are pretty much a waste of money.

The larger units that Sharper Images is most recognized for though, like their Blueair models tend to be efficient productive machines, even if you can pay up to $100 for a Blueair replacement filter. Now keep in mind that these high tech carbon fiber filters will capture particles down to .01 microns in size which is far smaller than the vast majority of machines on the market are capable of removing.

Whirlpool Air Purifier Filters

Whirlpool is home to what they call Wispure technology. A complete line of air cleaners ranging from smaller affordable models all the way up to larger full featured units with their most powerful selling in the area of some $300. All of them feature no nonsense rectangular lines, and all are floor models.

Still one more nice thing about them is that for the most part they all feature straight forward three stage pre-filter, carbon filter, and main filter systems, with some featuring hepa filter technology. It doesn't end there though because their filters on average tend to be some of the longest lasting and most reasonably priced you can find on the market.

Honeywell air purifiers are one of the most recommended air filtrating systems by both consumers and experts today.  A quick look at various top 10 lists of today’s best purifiers and Honeywell easily bags a spot in the top 5, often ranking 1^st.  The reason is simple, Honeywell air purifiers live up to the major standard being set for air purifiers and that is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).  CADR measures the amount of particulates in the air cleaned or cleared off every minute and this is measured by cubic feet.  Honeywell air purifiers have really good CADRs that adhere to this standard.

How well an air purifier cleans the air is largely dependent on its filters. A typical Honeywell air purifier is lodged with a pre-filter and the main filter (which is a HEPA filter or High Efficiency Particulate Air filter).  The pre-filter extends the life of the main filter by trapping larger particles like pet fur and hair dust.  In the case of Honeywell air purifiers, pre-filters and made of carbon which means that they also trap or adsorb odors that the main filter would not be able to remove.

Honeywell air purifiers’ HEPA filters pass the 99.7% industry requirement of capacity to remove airborne particles.  These filters are able to filter particles having the sizes of at least 0.3 microns and these include: pet allergens (.3 to 100 microns), dust and dust mite allergens (10-40 microns), pollens (10-100 microns), plant spores (10-70 microns), airborne fungi spores (0.5 to 5 microns), airborne mold spores (2-20 microns), and larger particles of tobacco smoke (0.003 to 0.04 microns).

In summary, if you are on the lookout for an effective filtration system for your home, you can’t go wrong with a Honeywell air purifier.  Just be sure to check out all the features of each Honeywell air purifier model.  Each model is made to fit a particular area in your home.  The really silent ones are perfect for your bedroom, for example, and their CADR are perfect for smaller areas.  The rest of the models have higher CADR and are reasonable options to clean bigger areas of your home.

See larger image Holmes HEPA-Type Air Purifier - Small (HAP242-UC) (Electronics) List Price: $84.44 USD New From: $42.04 In Stock

Over the past decade or so, amazing progress has been made in miniaturizing air purifiers. At the same time, following the trend in ever more affordable household electrical appliances, prices on these new and often palm sized cheap air purifiers have only continued to slide. Even so, before you make your final decision on which one to take home, there are a few facts you may like to know.

For instance even in larger models, ionic air purifiers don't process a lot of air, if they don't have a fan in them. Yes the ionic action alone will move air through the system but at a very low rate. What this means, is that you really can't expect a whole lot of performance out of any of the smaller less expensive ionic air purifiers.

On a positive note, ionic air purifiers are effective odor killers and that even includes the smaller models. So for localized, confined areas where odors are a problem, such as around a kitty litter box, a small ionic unit may be the perfect solution. Ionic smokeless ash treys are another example of ionic air freshening in a confined space.

There is also a huge selection of surprisingly inexpensive smaller hepa air purifiers to choose from as well. Now a hepa filter system will always have a fan in it regardless of its size, so they do tend to process more air. Even so, keep in mind that a $15 unit is not going to take care of a whole room. It just can't move enough air.

Basic smaller hepa air purifiers aren't as efficient at odor killing as ionic cleaners but they do a better job of cleaning the air of dust and other suspended air particles, such as smoke and ambient oil mist. Areas where smaller cheap air purifiers might be put to effective use are perhaps at a workshop table or in your kitchen near the stove.

Before you buy any smaller hepa filter air purifier you need to read up on its filter. How often does it have to be changed and how much does each one cost? You may be surprised at how many smaller hepa air purifiers appear to be a great bargain, until you do the math on filter costs and find out you'll be spending the same amount over time that you would on a larger unit.

• Consistent 5 star Amazon ratings

• Dual sensors for both hepa and carbon pre-filters

• 30 day trial period

If you're wondering why every time you go to look online for a Whirlpool air purifier, you continually run into the Whispure line? It's because in essence they are a Whirlpool air purifier. Whispure is a company that markets them through a licensing agreement with Whirlpool. It's a common business practice today.

The Whispure line consists of three models and all of them come with a unique option that you simply won't find anywhere else. That is a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee that you will be completely satisfied with their Quiet Partner system. It's marketed as the quietest high efficiency air purifier technology available today.

I checked on Amazon and found that all three units that they have in their lineup register consistent five star user review ratings, across the board. Now you do see consistent high ratings on air purifiers as you research them but very rarely a consistent five star rating. What this means, is that people who have already bought them like them a lot. All three models are Energy Star certified.

Model AP25030K

Lets start out with their most affordable unit, the AP25030K, which is priced on the companies main site at $250. Right away I see something that jumps out at me that I like. That is that it comes with two filter replacement warning lights. One for the carbon pre-filter and one for the main hepa filter. Now this makes just so much sense and I'll tell you why.

That is that it's the outer carbon pre-filters that gunk up the fastest. That's the one filter that you're going to need a warning system to stay on top of. I have always wondered about air cleaner manufacturers that tout how their hepa filters only need to be changed or cleaned very six months and that they have a warning light to tell you when the six months is up. That's what a calendar is for!

Now it's rated at 320 square feet, yet in the next sentence it says that it filters the air in that 320 square foot room 4.8 times per hour. Myself I like to see an air purifier process a room 6 times per hour in order to register its square footage, so I do believe that Whirlpool air purifier specs are a bit over rated in this area. Even so, they do put up some very respectable CADR numbers.

Those are 205 for dust, smoke and pollen. It also clears the air of 99.97% of all particulate matter down to .03 microns that passes through it, just as the other two models do. So even if this machine processes the air in a large room 4.8 times per hour, which is basically 1.2 times less than 6, it does an above average job of cleaning it. So then what about convenience features?

As a matter of fact it has none, beyond its three speed fan switch. Of course this is why even tough its the base model in the line, it also comes with a 5 year manufacturers warranty on all parts and labor. You see I've noticed one correlation over the past couple of years on affordable air purifiers. That is the more snazzy convenience features LED lighting, timers, etc, the shorter the warranty, if the unit even has one.

Model AP45030K

Now I really do find it odd how Whirlpool air purifiers moves from the AP25030K up to this next model, the AP45030K. In essence you get about twice the air purifier for just $50 more. You see it's priced at $300 on the companies site, yet its numbers come pretty close to doubling. That's 490 square feet, processing the room 4.8 times per hour this time and bigger CADR numbers too. 328-dust, 317-smoke, 350-pollen.

So then is there anything different about this model, other than its $50 price boost and larger numbers? At 26 pounds it is a bit heavier, so this model and the next one shown below it do come with rolling casters. Other then that however, it's pretty much the same as the model above in that area. It does have two filters sensors by the way and the same five year warranty and 30 day trial period.

Model AP51030K

Just as with the previous model, you're going to have to pay $50 more for this ($350) one according to the companies main site pricing structure. However; unlike the last step up, you get a heck of a lot more in the way of high tech gadgetry for your added $50. This model, just like the previous two Whirlpool air purifiers also comes with a free 30 day trial period and a complete 5 year warranty as well.

Now I was a little bit disappointed to see that the square foot rating on this AP51030K is just a measly ten feet more than the above listed previous model. You have to wonder if it really does process ten more square feet of air or if they simply fudged the numbers. Personally I just can't see one model have such a limited capacity over another one in the same lineup.

This model also comes with a fourth fan speed setting that's labeled “turbo”. I think a simple # 4 would have sufficed just fine but if they want to call it “turbo” it's their right to do so. Its CADR number is listed as 330, so I suppose that's an average of all three, dust, smoke and pollen. Also you just can't miss that this unit comes with a nice lighted digital readout screen. Of course it also has two filter replacement sensors.

See larger image Vornado Whole Room Air Purifier (Kitchen)

• A consistent 4-5 star Amazon rating

• Vortex air distribution technology

• Amazingly low price
  

Just like so many other companies during this last recession the Vornado Air Purifier company scaled its production line way back. So far back, that as far as I can tell, they currently only have one model that they manufacture and that's their model AQS 500.

Not to worry though because this company has been around for decades and is heavily diversified into several other types of environmental and airflow control systems. Also this one model that they have scaled down to is very highly rated with more than its share of positive attributes.

Vornado Air Purifier Vortex Technology Explained

Vornado AQS 500

The main selling point of all Vornado airflow products is that they incorporate vortex technology. This is true but I do believe that in this case, the technology is a bit over rated. Does it help? Yes it does but not to the extent that the people at Vornado would like to have you believe. So then just what is vortex technology.

In a nut shell, it's the means by which an air current is induced to spin as it flows. Picture a tornado in your head and that is a picture of a classic vortex. Vortex technology in the Model AQS 500 forces the air to spin as it leaves the machine, for a far wider distribution pattern.

Even so, in my mind it takes a lot more than spinning air to make a great air purifier and this machine does in fact have them. To start out with, at $100 which is the listed for it on the companies main site, the model AQS 500 is a great deal, considering all that it has and does. It also garners consistent 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon.com

This Vornado air purifier is rated for 255 square feet, which is almost unheard of in a unit in its price range. Under normal circumstances you can expect to easily pay twice that much for a machine that can process 255 square feet. So then what kind of actual CADR numbers does it deliver? Would you believe 149 for dust, 102 for smoke and 185 for pollen?

It delivers these types of numbers by way of two “not one” electrostatically charged hepa filters. Electrostatically charged means that the filter fibers themselves have a slight static charge that enables them to better capture and hold onto ambient particles. It is proven technology that's in wide use by a number of manufacturers.

For features the Vornado air purifier model AQS 500 also delivers a lot for its price range. They include personal setting that are displayed with LED lighting, three fan speeds and an automatic filter change indicator. Now its one drawback is that it's not as quiet as other competing units. This is due to its vortex fan being mounted on the top surface. It also comes with a 5 year warranty.

See larger image Bionaire BAP1412-U PERMAtech Mini Tower Air Cleaner (Kitchen) List Price: $69.99 USD New From: $49.95 In Stock Used from: $35.00 In Stock

• Find out about combined ionic and hepa technologies

• Check out pricing on their three models

The Bionaire air purifier line occupies its place in a very competitive market. The air purifier business has always been competitive but this years long recession has only served to make it more. Hence; just like so many other manufactures, Bionaire has scaled its product line back rather extensively.

Beware of Fake Online Negetive Reviews

Tower no remote $159

Now one problem you may have is fake product reviews that have been posted online. They're pretty common in all online product and business genres but they seem to have picked up in recent times. They can at times leave you scratching your head with the astounding negative claims that contain.

Bionaire Air Purifier Consumer Approval Ratings

In the end, the quickest way to find out what previous buyers thought of an air purifier, is to click to Amazon.com. Just type in what ever it is that you're interested in checking out and up will pop a whole selection of them, along with their “Amazon consumer approval star rating”.

What About Replacement Filters?

Now as stated above, this company has trimmed its line back extensively. Even so, you can still find their discontinued air purifiers being marketed on sites that specialize in clearance products of this type. Now for the time being, Bionaire Air Purifiers still stocks and sells replacement filters for all of them but this can't go on for ever.

Their Filters are Reasonably Priced

It's only a matter of time until they stop stocking them in the hopes of forcing consumers to buy a new Bionaire air purifier, or they'll simply jack the prices up on their replacement filters. That's the more likely scenario and it would be a shame too because their filters tend to be quite reasonably priced, comparatively speaking.

It's Basically Just the Permatech Line Now

Permatech Tower with remote $139

Now when I checked to companies main website, it shows them carrying basically three air purifiers and all of them are in their Permatech line. This means that they no longer make any of the nifty smaller units that they used to. It's a trend that seems to be pervasive throughout the industry as a whole.

The Permatech Tower Models

One noteworthy feature of these Permatech air purifiers though, is that they combine both ionic and hepa filter technology. Even so, the largest of them all is their Permatech Tower model that covers 170 square feet. They also have another model listed as simply The Permatech Tower that has a remote control. It's also listed for 170 square feet.

The Permatech Mini Tower

The baby in their lineup is simply called The Permatech Mini Tower and it in fact has no listing showing how may square feet it will cover. This of course can be taken to mean that it must not be much. Even so, as small as this unit is, it too comes with combined hepa and ionic air filtration technology built into it.

See larger image Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier (Kitchen) List Price: $210.99 USD New From: $164.89 In Stock Used from: $89.99 In Stock Release date September 15, 2005.

• What is a hepa filter?

• What is the very best hepa air purifier available?

• What about filter costs?

Hepa air purifiers have been around since the mid 1940s. They were in fact developed by the U.S. Government for the atomic bomb program during WW2. They needed a very exacting filter to protect the workers for airborne atomic particles. So then what does the word hepa even mean anyway?

No Official Standards for Hepa Air Purifiers

Would you believe that hepa is an anitialism for the words (high efficiency particulate air)? Also would you believe that there are no real official standards that govern how exacting a hepa filter has to be? There are however, accepted norms in the industry that dictate a filter of this type must stop 99.97% of particles .03 microns and above in size.

What About 99.97% Down to .01 Microns?

This is why you may have already noticed that most common hepa air purifiers, for the most part stick to these specifications. So then can you buy an air purifier that uses this type of filtration system that can do better than that? You bet you can but bear in mind that filters in general are balancing act.

The Better the Filter the Higher the Cost

That is the tighter their specifications and the smaller the particles they remove, the more expensive they tend to be. So how expensive can they get? Very expensive as a matter of fact, with some of the better filters costing several hundred dollars.

Filters that Cost More than the Machine??

A $250 30 pound air filter for an Austin Air Healthmate.

In fact if you have to make sure to check the actual cost of the filters and how often they need replacing on any air cleaning system you are considering. This is because it's not at all uncommon today for the cost of filter changes in some machines to exceed the actual cost of the machine, over a couple of years time.

To Change or to Vacuum - That is the Question

Another thing to consider, if your have severe allergies is what the actual changing of filters on any hepa air purifiers entails. You see some models will advertize that that their filters only require a vacuuming, rather than a complete change-out. For someone with severe allergies though this dusty job may be out of the question.

99.995% is Pretty Much Everything in the Air!

So then just what is the efficiency rating of the all time best hepa air purifiers that are available? Those would be medical grade commercial air purifiers. The type you would find filtering the air in an operating room. They go all the way down to an amazing 99.995%.

See larger image IQ Air HealthPro Compact Air Purifier/ Cleaner (Kitchen) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $660.00 In Stock

How does the Iqair HealthPro stack up against it nearest competitor?

• .01 microns verses .03 microns

• 1,000 sq feet verses 1,500 sq feet

• What about filter costs?

It's an established fact that the Iqair HealthPro air purifier does come with some hefty accolades. Category winner at the Allergy Buyers Club. Best air purifier featured in Wired Magazine. Consumer Digest Best Buy Award and Product of the Year at Reviewboard Magazine.

The Iqair HealthPro - Multiple Awards

Two Very Similar Machines to Compare

Even so, it's not the only show in town and what impressed those judges may not in fact be what you're looking for. I offer up the Austin Air HealthMate as a case in point. A very similar machine, yet with some very notable differences that need to be taken into account.

Is the Iqair HealthPro the Best Machine for You?

So then is either one the better machine? The truth is that one may be better for one person, while for another person the other machine may be the best choice. Once again it all comes down to what each party is looking for and expects from an air purifier.

Rectangular Plain Looking High Performance Workhorses

To start out with, on the the surface they're both very similar looking machines. They're both squat and hefty no nonsense designs that put function far ahead of form. In short, both of these machines were meant to be admired for their performance much more then for their racy looks.

The Iqair filter system

Multi-Stage Exacting Hepa Filter Systems

They both also scoop and blow a lot of air and they are also both in the same price range. They also both boast multi-stage high performance filter systems with one that goes beyond the three stage range that most of the best systems on the market offer.

The Iqair HealthPro Traps Particles Down to .01 Microns

It's these filter systems that also make both the Iqair HealthPro and the Austin Air HealthMate so attractive to serious allergy sufferers. However; here we run into one crucial difference. That is that the Iqair traps particles down to .01 microns, while the Austin Air only goes down to .03 microns. Even so, don't decide yet!

One More Difference in their Filter Systems

This is because you may want to know that the Austin Air comes with a complete four stage filter system, while the Iqair comes with a two stage system that can be upgraded to three. It's missing its activated charcoal gas trapping stage. Sound odd?

The Austin Air HealthMate filter with 15 pounds of activated charcoal

Both Come With Pricey Filter Systems

Well it won't sound so odd once you find out how much the complete filter system costs. The pre-filter costs around $129. The hepa filter will run you around $189 at replacement time and if you want to add the V5-Cell gas trapping filter that it came without, it's going to cost you around $90.

There really is a Lot to Consider

So with the complete filter system your up well over $300, while a comparable four stage system on the competing Austin air model costs about $100 dollars less. So it's a more expensive filter that traps smaller air particles. On the other hand the Austin Air filter contains 15 pounds of charcoal. It's a much better gas trapper.

Just One More Filter Aspect to Consider

Now it doesn't end there because the Austin Air Filter comes as one complete unit that requires changing only once every five years. On the other hand, the more exacting filter system on the Iqair HealthPro comes in three separate units that need changing every two to four years. Each component is different.

So Round and Round You Go

So round and round you go. It's all about what you want in a filter system and how much you're willing to pay for it. While the Iqair system has a better .01 micron hepa filter that costs more, the Austin air has a cheaper .03 micron hepa filter that also includes a far more advanced gas trapping element.

The Iqair HealthPro is Rated for 1,000 Square Feet

Now as the Iqair HealthPro does a better job of trapping finer ambient air particles it's also is rated for 1,000 square feet. That's 500 square feet less than the competing Austin air model that's rated for 1,500 square feet. So that's just one more difficult decision that you're going to have to make.

One black knob with three settings on the Austin Air

One Plain Black Knob With Three Fan Settings

Now when it comes to the topic of function and convenience features the Austin Air really has nothing to talk about. It has none. This is because its one sole operational feature is a basic black knob on its side, that has a total of 3 fan settings. That's it. You simply turn it on and adjust the speed.

Now that's a Nice Feature to Have

On the other hand, the Iqair HealthPro has one very sensible feature that you might like. This is the automatic fan adjusting air pollution sensor. What it does, is monitor the air pollution level and adjust the fan accordingly up or down as the levels change in any given environment.

Both Come With a Five Year Warranty

Both systems have a five year warranty and they both also are built from the highest quality parts and materials that are available and that includes their continuous use motors. So now you can see that which machine you choose really comes down to what your basic priorities are.

Just whats so different about the Austin Air Healthmate?

• How about a unique four stage filter?

• How about a free 30 day trial period?

• How about a whopping 15 pound charcoal filter?

The Austin Air Healthmate series, if you can call two duplicate machines a series, really does appear to be a breath of fresh air. (pardon the pun) You see in all the years that I've been researching and reviewing consumer products, I have noticed an all too familiar pattern.

Finally a Truly Different Air Purifier

That is that each new brand and their lineup of models all too often seems to be just a reshuffling of the deck. That all the competing brands really resembled one another in their functions and features far more than they differ. Different prices and different shapes but basically the same offerings in different packages.

The Total Simplicity of the Austin Air Healthmate

So it sure is nice to see an air purifier like the Austin air line that truly has something new and interesting worth reading about. At the same time, these head turning machines offer not one convenience feature option. In fact all you get is a big black knob to turn it on and adjust the flow rate with.

You Do Get to Choose Your Color Though

Sound enticing? Hardly not! Just keep on reading though because it gets real interesting from here. Also before I get into the technical end of things, I might as well give you the desert first. That is that this company is the only one that I know of that lets you choose what color you machine is.

Don't Call Your Interior Decorator Just Yet

You get to pick from a selection of sandstone, black, white, silver, and midnight blue. Now before you get all excited and call your interior decorator I might as well tell you now that these machine have all the designer cache as your average kitchen garbage container. They're basically rectangular boxes on a set of wheels. With a knob on it.

Now Who Else Offers Color Choices??

So the think tank that came up with the concept of the Austin Air Healthmate has left their competition in the dust as far as color choices are concerned but there has to be more to it than that. After all they have to offer something, just in case someone decides to turn theirs on. Something more than a knob on the side.

Count Em! - A Four Stage Filter System

They do and would you believe that these machines actually operate with a four stage filter system. That's right! While all their competitors were busy gloating over their three stage filter systems, the folks at Austin Air snuck another fourth stage onto theirs. Sheer genius! What brazen individual though of going beyond three stages??

An Arm Bending 15 Pounds of Activated Charcoal

It doesn't end there though because their third stage in this four stage system, is a carbon filter that contains a full 15 pounds of activated charcoal. You read that correctly! That's a whopping 15 pounds of gas trapping activated charcoal in one filter system! Here all the while the other companies had you so impressed with their whimpy disposable carbon infused blankets.

A Full 60 Feet of Medical Grade Hepa Filter - Pleated of Course

Now if that sounds impressive then read on because the fourth stage of this four part filter system, is a medical grade hepa filter (traps germs and viruses) that's a full 60 feet long. The way that they fit 60 feet of hepa filter into the machine is by pleating it. It's arranged in a folded framework.

So Just What Does a Large Particle Filter Catch??

Now of course there are to more stages to this filter system on steroids and the first one is what they call a “large particle filter”. It filters out large particles, (as its name suggests). The second filter in the four stage system is a medium particle filter. It filters out medium particles, (as its name suggests).

An Air Purifier With a 1500 Square Foot Rating?!?

It's all just too sensible! So now you're probably wondering how many square feet this unit is rated for and the fact it has a massive 1500 sq foot rating. The Austin Air Healthmate is also rated for 250 square feet of air per minute when its turned up to its highest setting.

How Much Pollution is in Your Square Feet Anyway?

If you stop to think about it square footage ratings really are a bunch of hot air. (pardon the pun). This is because they completely fail to take into account how much actual air pollution and dust is being generated in a home or business. That's what really matters!

So how many sq feet is your machine rated for??

Just Like Ordering Drinks at Burger King

Now that 250 square feet of air rating only counts for their large Austin Air Healthmate. You see I completely failed to mention that they're the only company that offers their air purifiers in “large and small models” No confusing model code numbers. Just large and small. It's just all too simple! I love it!!

A 30 Day Money Back Trial Period

So now you're wondering if this all sounds “too crazy”. After all, like the old adage goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is”. Well not to worry because the makers of the Austin Air Healthmate offer a complete 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like it just send it back!

Not Really the Cheapest Machines Out There

The one catch is that these machines really are not your most affordable option. The larger model sells for around $500 and the Austin Air Healthmate Junior retails in the area of $350. There is just one thing to consider though and that is that the filters on these machines are guaranteed to last 5 years, which saves you heck of a lot of money of filters.

Breaking the Air Filter Habit - Just Say No!

By the way, while were on the topic of filters, I might as well inform you that filter purchases are one of the biggest scams running today. Go ahead and do the math on what replacement filters will cost you on a cheaper competing model and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it adds up to some $300 over a five year period.

Fan and Motor:

Centrifugal fan 3 Speed control switch
Motor type: permanent split capacitor, rated for continuous high RPM , long life duty
Power rating: 1.3 amps, 120 volts
115 Watt power consumption at Max setting
CSA, UL and CE approved
Five year warranty (parts & labor)
Fan: 400cfm on max setting: rated for up to 1500 ft.
Fan Rating: 400cfm on high setting: cleans a room area of up to
1500 sq ft

Filter Assembly:
Weight: 23 lbs
14.5" height 13.5" diameter
60 sq. ft. true HEPA medical filter
15 lbs mix of solid activated charcoal & zeolite

See larger image Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier (Kitchen) List Price: $210.99 USD New From: $164.89 In Stock Used from: $89.99 In Stock Release date September 15, 2005.

• Consistent 5 star Amazon reviews

• Models in a wide range of prices & sizes

• Impressive sq foot and CADR numbers
  

It's a fact that more doctors recommend the Enviracaire air purifier to their patients than any other brand. Now no doubt you've heard that line of BS before but this time it's true. It was determined in an AQS survey of physicians that was conducted back in November 2005. AQS stands for Air Quality Systems. It's an air quality data repository,maintained and operated by the U.S. Environmental Agency. The EPA

Just What is it that's So Impressive About the Line?

So then let's take a look at this machine that comes in a few separate models to see if we can find just what it is that turned so many doctors heads. Medical professionals who's job it is to seek out only the best that is out there to treat their patients with. Men and women with analytical minds that are far less likely to be swayed by glitz and hype than your average consumer.

Five Stars for Honeywell Enviracaire Air Cleaners

By the way. As it turns out, with a consistent five star customer review rating on Amazon, it turns out that its not just trained medical professionals that are fingering this one particular model line as being highly desirable. Now I have reviewed some pretty impressive air cleaning systems. Systems that come real close with a 4.5 rating but this is the only one that I know of that rings the top bell every time with five stars.

Models 50150 & 50250-N are Both Straight Forward Workhorses

Now if you're looking for a unit that comes heavily decorated with lit up convenience features, such as air testing & remote operation, LED lighting, etc, etc, you won't find it here. Yes both the 50150 & 50250-N model have an “Intelicheck” filter sensor to let you know when its time to change the filter but that's pretty much it. You see these two machines are straight forward no nonsense air processing workhorses.

Sensible and Highly Functional Wrap Around barrel Design

To start off with, the sensible round barrel design of the 50150 & 50250-N isn't just for looks, although they are quite attractive in their own right. Rather, the round barrel shape is to accommodate their massive wrap around filter systems that not only covers a huge chunk of territory but they also seal up quite nicely as well. The filters quite literally wrap around the entire outside perimeter of the machines.

Minimal Features - Just Impressively High Numbers

So while other competing similarly priced units might attempt to dazzle you with features and sleek designer looks, these two units impress with their raw real numbers. Figures and numbers that you just won't find in any other units in these price ranges. It's also worth mentioning that neither of the two Honeywell Enviracaire models have air sterilization. However they more then make up for it in virus grabbing air scouring capacity.

Model 50150 Specs and Numbers

The Honeywell Enviracaire model 50150 sells in the area of $160 online. It features a dual filtration system that's made up of a thin non reusable carbon blanket filter and a reusable hepa filter that requires cleaning twice per year. This filter system grabs 99.97% of all suspended ambient air particles down to .03 microns in size. It uses a no nonsense problem free three speed knob for operation and is rated for 235 sq feet, with a CADR of 150 for dust, pollen and tobacco.

Model 50250-N Specs and Numbers

This Honeywell Enviracaire air purifier is basically a scaled up, more powerful version of the above profiled model 50150. The truly amazing thing about this particular unit is that it's rated for a massive 390 sq feet, yet it regularly sells for only $199 online. This is a great choice if you have more then one room to cover or an extra large living space in your home, perhaps with vaulted ceilings. It's CADR numbers of are an impressive 250 for dust, pollen and tobacco smoke.

The F500 Whole House Model - The Beast

There is also a Honeywell Enviracaire air purifier for the whole house. It's their impressive Enviracare Elite that's designed to be permanently installed and connected directly into your homes heating and AC ducting system. This a no nonsense steel cased air scrubbing beast that's relatively simple to install and requires no hard wiring. Just plug it into any 120V socket. It uses a three stage filter system that's made up of a pre-filter, an activated carbon and an advanced hepa filter and it sells for between $700 & $800, depending on features.

Quiet and Portable Enviracaire Quietcare 17000

Heading the opposite direction, you run into the baby of the Enviracaire family. The Enviraciare Queietcare model 17000. It's name is a real giveaway that this units main selling point is its low noise output. Along with its low price of around $130 online, its sq. footage rating and CADR numbers fall way back too. It's rated for 200 sq feet and its CADR numbers are 130 for dust, smoke and pollen so this really is a portable one room unit. Perhaps for a bedroom where its quite operation could be appreciated. Same wrap around dual filter design.