| Brand
|
Overall Rating |
Maximum Coverage
Area (at maximum fan speed and an 8 ft ceiling) |
Filter Type
|
Warranty
|
Comments
|
|
IQAir HealthPro
Compact
Best Performer
|
|
900 sq ft
|
Pre-Filter: 6-18 months
HyperHEPA Filter: 2-4 yrs
|
5 Year |
Pluses:
Best air purifier on the market. Delivers cleanest air regardless of
particle size including gas particles. New fan design makes the unit
sound quiet on the middle to lower speeds. 3-5 year replacement cycle on
HEPA filter. Attractive design, low maintenance.
Minuses: Not recommended for odor and smoke removal.
|
Alen™ A350
Best Value |
|
800 sq ft
|
HEPA Filter: 6 to 9 months |
Lifetime Warranty |
Pluses:
Best value air purifier on the market. Delivers comparable performance
compared to more expensive units at half the price. Attractive design,
low maintenance. Low filter replacement cost.
Minuses: Not recommended for smoke and odor removal.
|
Alen™ A375UV Ultra
Best Value |
|
800 sq ft
|
HEPA Filter: 6 to 9 months |
Lifetime Warranty |
Pluses:
Similar to the Alen™ A350 but offers remote control, odor removal and UV
bacteria/virus control. Delivers excellent performance compared to more
expensive units at half the price. Attractive design, low maintenance.
Low filter replacement cost.
Minuses: Designed for light smoke and odor removal.
|
|
IQAir HealthPro
Same as Compact unit but upgradeable to IQAir HealthPro Plus
|
|
900 sq ft
|
Pre-Filter: 6-18 months
HyperHEPA Filter: 2-4 yrs
|
5 Year |
Pluses:
Best air purifier on the market. Delivers cleanest air regardless of
particle size including gas particles. New fan design makes the unit
sound quiet on the middle to lower speeds. 2 to 4 year replacement cycle
on HEPA filter. Attractive design, low maintenance. Upgradeable to
the Plus unit to handle light smoke and odor removal.
Minuses: Not recommended for smoke and odor removal.
|
|
BlueAir 501
Quietest
|
|
620 sq ft
|
Electrostatic and HEPA type filtration
|
10 Year |
Pluses: 377 CADR Rating. Very quiet operation only 35
DB(A) on low fan seed. Easy filter replacement and does a very good job
at removing large particles such as dust and pollen from the air.
Minuses: Filter replacement required every 6 to 9 months.
|
|
BlueAir 601
Quietest
|
|
679 sq ft
|
Electrostatic and HEPA type filtration
|
10 Year |
Pluses: A CADR rating of over 400. Very quiet operation
only 32 DB(A) on low fan seed. Easy filter replacement and does a very
good job at removing large particles such as dust and pollen from the
air.
Minuses: Filter replacement required every 6 to 9 months.
|
|
Austin Air
HealthMate
|
|
1500 sq ft
|
Washable Pre-Filter. HEPA filter requires replacement
every 2-5 years
|
5 Year |
Pluses:
Excellent value with washable pre-filter. Recommended for larger rooms.
3-5 year replacement cycle on HEPA filter. Attractive design, low
maintenance. HEPA filter has 15 pounds of carbon & zeolite for gas
and odor removal
Minuses: Does not include filter life monitor to indicate when filters
require replacement.
|
| Brand
|
Overall Rating |
Maximum Coverage
Area (at maximum fan speed and an 8 ft ceiling)
|
Filter Type
|
Warranty
|
Comments
|
Alen™ T300
Best Value
Very Quiet |
|
300 sq ft |
HEPA Filter: 6 to 9 months |
Lifetime |
Pluses:
Great value and ultra-quiet with similar performance to high end
purifiers. Effective at removing dust & pollen in a bedroom or small office.
Low cost replacement filters.
Minuses: Unit does not perform well at removing smoke and odors.
|
|
Austin Air
HealthMate Jr
|
|
400 sq ft
|
Washable Pre-Filter.
HEPA filter (2 to 5 year)
|
5 Year |
Pluses:
Excellent for small rooms and offices where smoke and odor is not an
issue. 3-5 year replacement cycle on HEPA filter. Attractive design, low
maintenance. HEPA filter has 6.5 lbs mixture of solid activated carbon and
zeolite for general gas and odor removal.
Minuses: Does not include filter life monitor to indicate when filters
require replacement. |
|
BlueAir 402
|
|
365 sq ft |
Electrostatic and HEPA (6 month) type filtration
|
10 Year |
Pluses:
250 CADR rating. Very quiet on low fan speed with only 32 DB and is
perfect for a bedroom. Easy filter replacement and does a good job at
removing particles such as dust and pollen from the air.Available with
Smokestop filters for gas and odor removal.
Minuses:None. |
|
Friedrich C-90A |
|
465 sq ft |
Electrostatic plates and a thin
carbon filter |
1 Year |
Pluses: Low filter
replacement cost. Good ratings by leading consumer magazine. An above
average purifier. This unit tested well in our independent testing
however, due to the ozone smell and higher than average product returns,
we've rated it only 3 stars.
Minuses: The electrostatic plates require frequent washing twice
per month. Some levels of ozone are produced as a by-product and the smell
may be annoying to most people.
The carbon filters are not effective for smoke and odor removal.
|
|
Honeywell 50250
|
|
374 sq ft |
Synthetic filter (6 month) |
1 Year |
Pluses:
250 CADR Low cost unit designed for dust removal only in small areas.
Minuses: Effective at only removing the large dust particles from the
air.
|
|
Hoover Silent Air 4000 |
|
500
|
Static collection sheets
|
1 Year |
Pluses:
Quietest air purifier on the market with low filter replacement costs.
Very attractive design at an affordable price. Uses very little energy.
Minuses:
Frequent filter replacement (monthly) for optimal performance. Not
effective in large areas. |
Magic Clean
|
|
265 sq ft |
HEPA-type filter: 6 months |
1 Year |
Pluses:
Average performance at removing dust & pollen in a bedroom or small office
setting.
Minuses: Unit does not have enough carbon to remove smoke and odors.
|
|
Oreck XL Professional Air Purifier |
|
225 |
Pre-filter & Electrostatic collection plates
|
3 Year |
Pluses
No filter replacement costs.
Minuses:
Not effective in removing any type of particulates - only 45% removal.
Unit generates ozone. |
|
Sharper Image Ionic Breeze |
|
250
|
Electrostatic collection plates
|
5 Year |
Pluses:
Quietest air purifier on the market with no filter replacement costs. Uses
very little energy.
Minuses:
Not effective in removing any type of particulates. |
