Air Purifier GO!

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.

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.

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?

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 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.