Air Purifier GO!

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 Honeywell F300A2025 F300 Electronic Air Cleaner 20x25 (Misc.) Used from: $400.00 In Stock

If you are interested in checking out the Honeywell Enviracaire Elite, I have some sad news for you. It's gone. Well sort of because it's name has really just been changed from the F300 Enviracaire Elite, to just the Honeywell F300.

It's No Longer the Honeywell Enviracaire Elite

You see Honeywell now has a complete line of centrally mounted air purifiers that connect up to the return air duct and there is just one F300 in that lineup. Relax though because the F300 is all that that the F300 Enviracaire used to be, only without the “Elite” at the end of its name.

It is an Ionic Air Purifier So there's No Filter

The F300 is an ionic air purifier, so it of course uses no hepa filter. Rather, the set of metal plates that capture the air particles is simply removed and washed by hand in a sink or it can be washed in a dishwasher. There is just one drawback though.

Rated to Capture a Rather Low 98% of Dust Particles

That is that it's only rated to capture some 98% of the ambient dust particles that pass through it. There is another unit in the lineup, the F500 that is rated higher. However; it uses a hepa filter system and it also costs about $200 more than the F300.

UV Air Sterilization On All Units

The F300 does have one distinct advantage though and that is that it comes with UV air sterilization capabilities. UV light in the unit is generated by a mercury vapor lamp that essentially never needs changing. Even so, all mercury vapor lamps lose half their power in five years.

Humidifier Pad Option on the F300

Two more items with making note of are that this unit also comes with a humidifier pad option. This is optional but the pre-filter screen that catches large particles before they can gunk up the plates is not. It's a standard feature that comes with all models. So you see that this is the Honeywell Enviracaire Elite, just with a simple name change.

Simply Plug it into a Standard 120 Volt Wall Socket

Lastly, it runs off a standard 120 volt wall plug, so this means that there is no need for hard wiring. You simply plug the unit in after it has been installed. Also if there is no room in your AC closet, a pre fabricated closet to contain the F300 is available.

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.

See larger image Austin Air HealthMate - Sandstone (Kitchen) List Price: $449.99 USD New From: $479.95 In Stock

• What are the best options for allergy sufferers?

• Is your home sealed up properly?

• Find out about whole house allergy air purifiers!

If you suffer from a dust or pollen allergy, air purifiers are definitely an option that you should be taking a close look at. Even so, before you get started comparison shopping, there are a few things that you need to know. Things that can make all the difference in how you feel.

Dirty air duct - Before/After

Here's Something to Consider!

For instance, have you ever considered having your central air conditioning duct-work cleaned? If your home and its system is more than a few years old, the air lines in the attic may be caked with dust and fibers. It's also a relatively inexpensive job to have done.

One More Place to Block Out the Air Pollution

Another thing that you will want to look into is having your exterior doors sealed up. All it involves, is screwing or nailing a door brush on the bottom of each door to close up the open air passageway that may exist there. These two items are very crucial!

Allergy Air Purifiers and Their Numbers

You see as you compare allergy air purifiers, your going to be faced with several numbers. All of these numbers square footage ratings, etc. have to do with how well any unit processes air. The manufacturers basically speak in terms of how large and how many rooms any given unit can handle.

Any Sized Unit May Not Be Enough

What virtually all of them fail to mention though, is that if your home is unsealed or has a dirty AC duct-work, any unit of any size may not be enough. After all, it takes couple of hours at least for the air in a room to be thoroughly processed even in the best of conditions.

What About a Whole House Unit?

So now on to actual allergy air purifiers and what may work best for your particular condition. To begin with, have you considered a whole house unit? One that connects up directly to your AC duct-work and handles the air in your entire home? Honeywell has several to select from and their cheapest model only costs a little over $100.

The Honeywell F500 whole house model

The Honeywell F500 Whole House Model

Their most expensive model the F500 costs upwards of $800 to $900, depending on options but if you do the math, it's still most likely a cheaper option than buying more than one unit for handling more than one room in your home. Also one large allergy air purifier means that you don't have several dirty filter to mess with.

A Big Heavy Duty Workhorse

So then, what if your allergies are extreme and you don't want to go through the hassle of having a whole house unit installed? In this case one model worth looking into is the Austin Air Healthmate. It's not a cheap unit but it is rated to process up to a full 1300 square feet of floor space.

One of the Biggest and Best Portable Allergy Air Purifiers

That's not all because this particular allergy air purifier is a veritable air pollution gathering beast. It features a four stage filter system that weighs some thirty pounds. This monster filter actually contains some 15 pounds of activated charcoal and get this. It only has to be changed once every five years.

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.

Discover all the differences between the...

• F500 A and F500 B Models

• The F300, the F200 and the F100
  

Honeywell air cleaners for the entire home come in five separate models. The F500A, the F500B the F300, the F200 and their F100. The F500 models are their hepa filter models and they are both identical in their size and specifications save for one difference.

The F500A and the F500B

That is that the F500A is built for mounting an air conditioned environment while the F500B is specified for installation outside of air conditioned environments. I'm only guessing but it seems to me that it all has to do with temperature sensitive mechanisms in the units that monitor their performance.

About Square Footage Ratings

In grading smaller single room air purifiers one of the first items on a checklist would be the square footage rating. That is just how many square feet is a model rated for. In the case of these whole house models you won't find one. They do have a fan in them but there are just too many variables involved in an entire home to come up with one precise figure.

No Hard Wiring Required

Another item worth noting, is that all of these whole house units are operated by way of a completely wireless system. (a wall mounted remote) They also require no hard-wiring. That is that they're powered by a standard 120V plug-in cord that's comes connected to each unit. You simply plug it in.

What About UV Air Sterilization?

Another important aspect worth making note of, is that only one of these these Honewell air cleaners has any type of UV air sterilization system. (the F300) However; if this is something that's important to you it may be worth your time to look into some of the recent studies that have determined that germs die shortly after being trapped on ionic collection treys.

About the F200 Model

So then there must be some other significant differences between these various models of Honeywell air cleaners. There is and for instance, while the F500 models are more complex and feature laden the F200 is their stripped down no fan unit that's designed for installation on forced air heaters and cooling systems up to 5 tons.

No Electrical Hook-Up Required

The two main benefits that this very affordable unit offers is low price ($250) and complete ease of installation. (no electrical hook-up). Rather, it uses electrostatic filter technology to capture particles as small as .03 microns. It also has easy filter access for quick changing. This unit comes ready to adapt to 16” X 20” ducting, so some adaptation may be required.

What it Has to Offer

This really is the perfect unit for someone who isn't in the market for a high performance air cleaner, as say a person with severe allergies might need. The person who's simply interested in seeing their air filtered far better than a standard duct filter is capable of, who also has an eye towards low maintenance and affordability.

Back Up to the F500 Models

Jumping back up to the $700 to $800 F500 models. These really are what you would call enlarged versions of your standard feature laden hepa filter systems, without UV purification systems. They use a three stage filter system that consists of an activated carbon filter, pleated pre-filter and a final hepa filter that captures 99.97% of dust particles down to .03 microns.

The Real Difference Between the F500 A & B

The only real difference between the A and the B model is that the B model comes in an insulated steel cabinet, while the A model cabinet is just plain steel. Also both of the F500 models can be mounted directly in line or out of line with separate ducting because they both have fans that push air. They both also have automatic filter sensor to let your remote know it's time for a change.

Their F300 Ionic Air Cleaner

Honeywell air cleaners F300 model would best be described as large version of a full featured ionic air purifier, complete with UV air sterilization. One thing that I like about this unit, is that it uses a pre-filter to screen out the larger gunk so it doesn't muck up the main filter grid. A nice feature to have on a high volume unit.

Minimal Air Duct Flow Resistance

The F300 which is priced in the area of $400, also comes with a humidifier pad option and a ten year clean coil guarantee. Yet one more benefit of this type of ionic in system air purifier is that because the air easily passes through the grids, it has minimal effect on the overall air duct air pressure.

Their F100 Model

The F100 in the Honeywell air cleaners lineup is for all intents and purposes the exact same unit as their F200 model. There are two note worthy differences though and they are price and the fact that the F100 model does not come with an automatic air filter changing sensor. You can find this unit for sale online for as little as $100.

It's The F200 With No Filter Sensor

That really is pretty cheap and the fact is that under normal conditions, filter changes can be so infrequently needed that going without the automatic filter sensor rally is no big deal. Just remember to change it every few months or so. Also keep in mind that just like the F200, this model uses a folded or (pleated) electrostatically charged filter.