Overview
The Bionaire line of air purifiers are some of the less expensive air purifiers on the market. My review starts with the Bionaire BAP825 air purifier model, their top unit. This a very inexpensive model that is a HEPA air purifier, and that’s about it. It does have negative ions as well. These technologies are reviewed further down the page.
My neighbor, a smoker, was throwing one of them out and hence the video review below. This is a very simple, inexpensive unit. You will have to change the filters in it every 3-4 months depending on conditions. I’d love to say more about it, but there’s not much to the Bionaire models to begin with so I’ll leave the video and the spec sheets below to give you an idea whether it fills your needs.
Bionaire Air Purifier Video Review
Stages of Purification
Now let’s take a look at the filters and technology for cleaning the air. The Bionaire Bap825 air purifier has 3 stages
Stage 1 HEPA – Best for allergies and asthma HEPA comes in all sizes and shapes. HEPA captures dust and pollen up to 99.97%.
Stage 2 Negative ION. By far the least expensive and least effective air purifier technology it has an interesting benefit. While negative ions can kill some mold, odor, and smoke the greater benefit is the positive impact negative ions have on brain function and lung tissues. Negative ions are what makes ocean air and mountain air so invigorating. Think of negative ions as “vitamins of the air”.
Stage 3 Activated Carbon. Absorbs odor and gases.
Pros and Cons
Pros
1 – Inexpensive
2 – Includes HEPA
3 – Remote control
4 – Power oscillating housing for direction air flow
5 – Filter change indicator light
6 – Attractive sleek design, unobtrusive, Space Saving, Easy to clean
7 – On/Off Ionizer
Cons
1 – Loud
2 – Expensive HEPA filters (for their size that is)
3 – Covers only a very small area – 180 sq. ft.
4 – Very loud at all speeds
5 – Puts out heat while running
6 – Power consumption: low 50, med 90, High 150 watts
7 – customer service slow – large call centers so not possible to have consistency
8 – Oscillator engineering problems – unreliable performance
9 – No prefilters
10 – Not a true Hepa Filter
11 – Prone to excessive vibration
12 – not good on pollen, mold, nothing to kill bacteria, viruses
Specifications and Technologies
Bionaire BAP825
Retail Price:
Purification Technologies:
Square Footage: 168 SQ. Ft.
Replacement Filter Costs:
Carbon lasts only 3 months, Hepa 6 months.
50.00 for 2 pack Hepa and 20.00 for carbon
Yearly Costs: 200.00
Decibel Level: Low-30db, Med-45db, High-55db – noticeable in the small room it covers
WARRANTY/GUARANTEES: 2 year limited
SIZE (dimensions), WEIGHT – (ease of moving to different rooms):
29.4 x 11.3 x 8.2 inches ; 14.8 pounds
Number of Speeds – 3 speed GE Electric motor
OTHER BRAND MODELS Names/Numbers:
BAP725, BAP1700-U Permatech Tower, BAP1500-U Tower, BAP 1501 Permatech Ionizing, BAP825WO-U Hepa Tower, BAP1525CW-U Permatech Tower, BAP2000-U Permanent Filter, BAP1225-U Galileo
Air Purifier Rating
1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 3
2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust)8
3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 2
4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 5
5. Longevity/Quality 5
6. Noise Levels 2
7. Ease of Use 10
8. Warranty 3
9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 2
10. Price Value 5
Score: 45 = Fair
Conclusion
If you’re trying to get rid of dust and pollen, and can’t afford more than 80, I would buy the Bionaire BAP825. The reason my neighbor was throwing his out – after 6 months the replacement costs were more than the cost of the purifier. Plus being a smoker the machine didn’t do a great job. He would have been better off with a machine that includes the washable electrostatic plates.