Air purifiers are something that many of us are using nowadays. They are meant to purify the air in the room in which they are installed. For those of us who have allergies this is a big help because it will remove all dust particles and other things that give us allergies. It is especially important in households that have pets and small children. Very often children fall sick for no other reason than they are allergic to their pets and the air purifiers will go a long way towards removing these allergy causing particles.
There are different kinds of air purifiers with the simplest being the filters that employ simple, mesh filters that trap particles in the air. The newer age filters that go by the term HEPA are so good that they can remove particles up to 0.3 microns in size. This means that up to 99.97% of all particles are trapped by just this filter.
There are other filters that employ active carbon which is just a porous material that traps any volatile chemicals that are present in the air. It is however ineffective against particles that are not volatile and therefore work best in tandem with other filters.
The newest technology on the block is the ionizer air purifiers. These instruments ionize the air that passes through by passing UV light through the air. This method is actually one of the most effective when it comes to purifying air, but the danger with this method is that they release trace amounts of ozone into the air. Even minute amounts of ozone are very harmful to us and can cause anything from an allergic reaction very similar to an asthma attack to actually causing damage to the lungs. In California, such air purifiers have in fact been banned except the large industrial ones that are used for a certain purpose.
With the cost of air purifiers coming down, they have become so affordable that many of us will get one even if we don’t need one. This being the case it is good to know which the best one. We have therefore categorized air purifiers into three and have reviewed the three best in each. Read further for details on which the best ones are in each category.
Low End Air Purifiers – Less Than $150
All air purifiers that are below $150 have been considered in this category. Most home owners go for one from this category because they really don’t need anything more. Most of them employ cutting edge technology and the only thing against them will be their size. For most average sized rooms like bedrooms or nurseries they are however sufficient.
The three best models in this category are:-
1. Honeywell HHT-011 HEPA clean air purifier
Honeywell is one of the strongest brands when it comes to air purifiers. They offer a whole range of products all of which are the same with regards to technology. The size differs though as does the design of the outer panels. This model is their top selling one for two reasons, it looks nice although not as radical as some of the others and it is also one of the cheapest that you can find. It is a pretty compact unit and is good for most small rooms. At just $50 it is practically a steal considering that you get all three methods of filtration. You get the first washable pre-filter, a HEPA permanent filter beyond this and finally an ionizer that you can either turn on or off. Click here for a view of the product.
2. Hamilton Beach TrueAir compact air purifier
Hamilton Beach is a very popular name when it comes to home appliances as such and their air purifiers are no different. Their TrueAir model is the second most popular model in any category and sells in such large numbers because it is almost maintenance free. Hamilton Beach has wisely given a model where their outer pre-filter can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner itself and does not have to be washed like how the Honeywell ones need to be cleaned. It also looks really nice and is a tower model although it looks a little different from other tower models.
At just $80 it is a little more expensive than the Honeywell one, but then it can also be used for slightly larger rooms too. Plus you can get it for much cheaper in a couple of the online stores. The only drawback to this model is that it does not come with the ionizer, but then with all the risks inherent with it it is better not to use it in the first place. Click here for more details.
3. Honeywell 17000-S Quiet Care air purifier
This is a slightly larger model than the previous model and can actually be used in even medium sized rooms. It has a unique air purification system that utilizes a three stage cleaning system. Unlike the previous model however it does not have an ionizer but instead uses an active carbon filter that traps everything from bad odor to allergens in it.
At around $115 it is also much more expensive than the previous model, but then it does give you better air purification systems too. Plus there is always the chance that if you get it online you can get if for cheaper. Click here to find out more.
Mid Range Air Purifiers – Between $150 – $300
The mid range models are those between the $150 and $300 mark. Considering that most of the low end models are in themselves quite sufficient for most households you may think they were more than enough. While this is true, the size of the low end machines leave a lot to be desired. If you have a slightly larger room, then you do not have any choice but to go in for a larger model because the smaller one would simply not be enough.
1. Honeywell 50250 True HEPA allergen reducer air purifier
This model from Honeywell is once again one of the biggest sellers in this segment. It is a larger model and can be used in mid sized to large rooms and gives a number of extra features. For example it has a 360 degree air intake and discharge system which makes sure that it can be placed anywhere in the room including in its center and you will get good overall air purification. It also comes with the vacuum facility where you can clean it by just vacuuming it.
One good thing with all Honeywell air purifiers is their Intelli-Check which lets you know if the air filter is getting clogged up. At around $210 it is also quite expensive, but then you could get it for around $160 in an online store if you wish to purchase from them. This model does not have their ionizing feature, but comes with an active carbon filter that removes all allergens including pollen and dander. Click here to get more details.
2. Whirlpool whispure air purifier with HEPA filter
Whirlpool is a company that is known for its good quality products and their air filters are no different. They give you the mandatory three stage air purification system in a simple easy to move casing. At nearly $350 it is also quite on the expensive side, but then it is also large enough to be used in most good sized rooms. Plus you can get it for less than $300 what with all the discounts and all. Click here to check it out.
3. Surround air XJ-3800 Intelli-Pro air purifier
This model is selling in such large numbers simply because it is being marketed as the safest air purifier in the market. It is supposed to have 7 air filtration systems which effectively remove anything else except the air. Added to this you usually get an additional air filter along with a UV lamp as part of the package when you order one. With all this you would think that it costs quite a package, but at only $229, it is one of the cheapest in this category.
The only downside to this filter is that it comes with the UV ionizer that a number of experts say is very unsafe. Although most of these products have been certified safe enough to pass set standards, in real world conditions they have been found to actually have harmful levels of ozone. Click here for a look.
Top End Air Purifiers – Over $300
These are the ones that cost more than $300. Most of us do not even need anything like these but then not all of us are the same. These air purifiers are the best in class, and although there are systems that cost quite a bit, the popular ones are the least expensive as well as the most effective in this category. Let us then take a look at the three best selling models in this category.
1. Venta airwasher LW 44
This is a German brand that has only one model but in different sizes. The most popular one is their largest one that can be used in rooms that are as large as 720 sq ft. For all this purifying it is also very low in maintenance, and does not require anything other than that you fill water into the appliance every day.
This model works by evaporating minute quantities of water. This water is not heated, rather small disks immersed in the water spin at speeds making the water break into small droplets. The friction also induces a small charge to this water which effectives traps everything from particles to odor to even bacteria in the air. This model is one of the most effective air purifiers in the world and this shows because it is the top selling model in this category.
At nearly $580 it is also quite on the expensive side, although you always have the option of purchasing from an online store where you can get amazing discounts. Click here to take a look.
2. Rabbit Air BioGS 421A
This model is popular because it is the traditional air filter with washable filters that trap everything in the air. People who are not entirely convinced about the humidifier, purifier model opt for this one. It has everything including a washable pre-filter as well as a washable carbon filter. It also is pretty large and can be used in rooms as large as 600 sq ft.
At around the $550 it is also not a cheap model. They however have a very unique method of marketing their product and that is by saying that a portion of the profits would go towards donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Added to this is the fact that you can always get it for around $360 at an online store. Click here for more information.
3. Austin Air Healthmate series
Austin Air is another well known name when it comes to air purifiers, and their healthmate series is a stand alone model that comes with wheels so that you can wheel it to wherever you want it. Plus you can get them in 5 different colors. As a model it is pretty much unprepossessing and looks very much like a kitchen appliance, but as a good air purifier it does its job.
This one too follows the traditional air filtration system, except that instead of the usual three filters, it has four. The extra layer is just another layer of pre filter with the active carbon and the HEPA filter following. At around $450 it is also not as expensive as the other two and if you go online you can probably get it much cheaper too.
If you are unsure about the efficiency of their product Austin Air gives you a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee. If you are dissatisfied with their product you can always return and receive a full refund. It is probably this guarantee more than anything else that has driven sales for this model. Click here to take a look.
In these days of large mega cities where millions of cars are out in the street air pollution is a major problem for all of us. For most of the day there is nothing much that we can do but at home we have the option of using air filters so that at least there we do not have to worry about bad quality air.
Many people who had not realized that they were allergic actually found that their sleep became much better after they started using an air purifier which goes to show how important it is for us nowadays.
Which one you choose and how much you pay for it depends almost entirely on the size of the room that you want to install it in. The smaller the room the smaller the size of the purifier.