Overview
Did you ever buy something inexpensive, only to find it cost you more later? The Honeywell 50250 air purifier is one of those purchases, costing 200 or less, with replacement HEPA filters costing 70 every 6 months. If you have allergies the HEPA will help, and the prefilter will catch dust and hair, but that’s it.
This model 50250 also uses the name Enviracaire which is a brand name created by Honeywell.
Company History
Honeywell’s 75 years manufacturing air purifiers is longer than any other company I know of. The downside here is that like most large companies, and despite a good reputation, they already have market penetration so the incentive for innovation is gone.
Problems
The design of this model hasn’t changed or been upgraded in 10 years, and there’s where one of the problems comes in. It’s loud. The bearing purifier fan motor is much noisier than the newer brushless motors created over the last 10 years. (see my Decibel test on this model). The older motors also use more electricity so your operating costs will be more.
There are two filters: A very thin Activated Carbon PreFilter – non-washable that needs to be changed, at least, every 3 months under ‘normal’ air quality conditions (no pets/little dust) and the Hepa filter. It has an “Intellicheck” feature that tells you when to change the filter which is time based (It tells you to change it by time, not condition).
Now watch the video review of the Honeywell 50250 air purifier below…
Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
1- Inexpensive
2- Easy to find in stores
Con’s
1 – Loud (bearing motor – even low is too loud for sleeping)
2 – Expensive replacement filters
3 – Only helps pollen and dust
4 – Large
5 – A’Blue Light’ that consumers say is ‘too bright’ for sleep
6 – No real VOC, gas, toxin capability
7 – needs to be placed 3 ft from wall
8 – 170 watts on HIGH – not energy efficient at all
Specifications & Technologies
Honeywell 50250
Retail Price:
Purification Technologies; 2 (Hepa & Carbon)
Square Footage: 300 SQ. Ft.
Replacement Filter Costs: 70-85 Hepa
Yearly Costs; 120
Size and Weight: 18x18x19 – 23 lbs.
Decibel Level: 40 (low)
Pros – Good for Dust, Pollen, Inexpensive
Cons- Not good for germs, Viruses,
Warranty – Limited
Number of Speeds – 3
Filters – Costs, types
Years In Business: 75
Manufactured in: China
Product Summary and Rating: 38
Air Purifier Rating
1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 2
2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust) 8
3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 0
4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 0
5. Longevity/Quality 5
6. Noise Levels 1
7. Ease of Use 9
8. Warranty 5
9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 2
10. Price Value 6
Score: 38 = Fair
Conclusion and Suggestion
If you only have and allergies or asthma help is the only thing you need, then the Honeywell 50250 would be an option. It won’t help with germs, bacteria, viruses or odor.
You’d get a lot more for your money (and save money over a year) by spending more with other models reviewed on this site. The replacement filters are just too overpriced.