Air Purifier Reviews

The Winix WAC9500 Ultimate Pet True HEPA Air Cleaner forms the cream of the high-end air purifiers in the market. With a streamlined design, it can be integrated into any home that has a rather cosmopolitan design about itself. This machine is designed for use in areas where the highest quality of air is needed such as in a family bedroom, where there are little children who can be sensitive to dust and other allergens.

The machine is quite powerful and it features the best technology in the market to clean the air. The PlasmaWave filter that is built into this machine further adds potency to the HEPA filter cleaning mechanism by making the dust easy to filter and remove. There is also the normal filtration process in the machine that needs the conventional filters and then the HEPA filter, which removes the airborne microorganisms. Testing has shown that this machine is indeed very effective. It was used in a room that faces a busy street in the main financial district of the city where there is ample dust. The air was fit for breathing in no time and considering that this was a rather large room, it can be said that the Winix WAC9500 is suitable for use in almost any location possible irrespective of the type of house and the room that it is to be placed in.

The Winix WAC9500 is great to control the dust levels and even the odor content in the room. If you have an animal such as a cat, this machine can remove all the odor that comes from them. In addition, any lint or fur that is left lying around is effectively removed. The pre filter can be washed when it gets full and needs replacement only when its quality gets so degraded so as to be ineffective. On the other hand, the HEPA filter is very effective and it requires no replacement as it is actually permanent. You merely have to clean it when the indicator shows that it is full.

This air purifier is quite intelligent as it has sensors that set it automatically to the sleep mode when the lights go off and based on the air quality, the power level is adjusted too. The manufacturer claims that this purifier can get rid of 99.99% of the airborne particles thanks to the PlasmaWave technology and based on the testing, it does seem true as users have reported a drastic decrease in their allergies and the like after they started using this machine.

This machine is very efficient in terms of power consumption too. It consumes only around 17W at the high power mode and can clean the air in a medium sized bedroom about 5 times in an hour. With this machine in place, there is nothing to worry about it in terms of the airborne diseases department.

There are hardly any downsides to this machine. In fact, it performs with such a low noise level that you will have to check if it is indeed running. Moreover, the maintenance of this is very low and you will save a lot of money in the later stages despite the higher initial investment. The only thing that can be improved is that the sleep mode should turn on right away rather than wait a while after the lights are turned off and the buttons for this mode should be made readily available. This is a great machine and a worthwhile investment.

Pros

• Very effective cleaning with the PlasmaWave technology
• Pre filter can be cleaned with ease
• Sensors work great for sleep mode

Cons

• Sleep mode setting should be made easier

The Winix PlasmaWave 5300 stands tall and streamlined in a medium sized room and it performs to the level of an industrial air purifier. That might be a slight exaggeration but its ability to skim through dirt in the air is pretty impressive and makes for a good corner tool in the living room or large bedroom. The machine is quiet and it has some interesting features that let it stand apart from the crowd.

The first thing that you will notice about the machine is the design. It has a vertical grill on the front that make the air purifier look rather streamlined as opposed to the conventional horizontal grill and vents. The body has a good brushed metal-like finish and it goes with any of the modern homes, but with air purifiers, aesthetics are not your first priority, right? Anyway, coming to the performance of the machine, it features the standard three-stage air filtration system starting with a pre-filter, followed by a plasma generator and a HEPA filter. The most impressive in these three is easily the plasma generator that can tackle polluting particles in air, which are invisible to the eye. The HEPA filter does just what the name says. It is very efficient when it comes to getting rid of bacterial and other allergens to keep the air breathable. The carbon pre-filter does most of the noticeable job as it traps the larger dust particles and filters the air to free it from foul odors and the like.

The machine tests good with rooms as large as 350-sq.ft but it can be stretched a little beyond that. Standard tests on this machine revealed that it was capable of improving the air quality in the room to near perfection and that too quite quickly. The interesting aspects of this machine come in the features of it. The most useful one is the presence of a sensor that takes care of the fan speed automatically. This means that you do not have to take pains in adjusting the speed manually and changing it when you feel you had enough.

The Winix PlasmaWave 5300 is rated to be pollutant free and it doesn’t emit any annoying gases like ozone. Moreover, it happens to be quite energy efficient, as certified by the agencies. The machine is fairly quiet and if you use the auto control, you can’t adjust the noise level, which gets slightly loud at high power levels. There are also air quality indicators on the front of the machine for your convenience and information.

This machine has been designed to perfection and it is fairly small too for the power it packs. It can sit in a corner of the room and do its job quietly. However, if you have to use the high power setting, make sure that it is done only for a small period of time, as we noticed some slight heating in the machine. In addition, the turbo feature, which is used for a rapid cleanup, works great but the downside is the sound that the machine makes in this mode. The included remote control is great to adjust the machine from a distance and it has its own little enclosure on top of the machine to keep the remote from getting misplaced. On the whole, a great machine to keep at home, especially in living rooms.

Pros

• Powerful and effective cleaning
• Filters are effective and remove a lot of the particles
• Automatic fan speed control

Cons

• Turbo mode is quite noisy
• Slight heating issues

The Surround Air XJ-3800 Intelli-Pro Air Purifier is among the high end air purifiers that use several sensors to monitor the air quality and make changes to the purification process accordingly. The machine looks futuristic from the front, as it should considering the digital technology it uses but from the side, it is rather bulky as the vents are on the side and top. The XJ-3800 has a great finish to it and it is the type of air purifier that you will want in a minimalistic room or study.

The XJ-3800 features six types of filtration processes at various levels to ensure that the air it sends out is as clean as possible. In fact, this machine can be compared to the clean rooms used in small scale laboratories. The types of filters used here are the pre-filter followed by the activated Carbon filter, which is supported by the HEPA filter. These are all working in tandem with a UV lamp, an ionizer and a dust collection grid. While the first three are common to most lower end air purifiers, the latter three are what really make the difference.

The UV lamp is aimed at killing bacteria and other microorganisms that get away easily. The radiation is dangerous to them but Surround Air XJ-3800 uses only minimal doses so you have nothing to worry about. The ionizer is used to crush the dust particles to smaller pieces to ensure that they can all be eliminated with ease by the dust collection grid that uses electrical potentials to segregate the particles and collect them.

The other notable feature of this machine is the use of various sensors that work all the time to monitor the air for levels of pollutants and the like. Based on this the machine adjusts itself to the right power for optimized cleaning. This can be bypassed by the manual control of the fan speed but it is best to let the gadgets do it for themselves. Moreover, the use of these sensors ensures that the machine uses just the amount of power it needs and nothing more. In addition, there is a display that lets you know exactly how clean your air is. There are also sensors and displays for odors, dust and other allergens too. The most useful indicator is undoubtedly the one that tells you how full your air filter is and when it has to be cleaned. Note that the HEPA filter is permanent and needs vacuuming only about twice a year, which is very economical.

The machine also has a great sleep or quiet mode setting that makes almost no noise. This is ideal for the night especially in the bedroom if you need the air to continue circulation. The fan in the machine is also low volume but this is made up with the number of air inlets. Together they work to reduce the power consumption of your machine and maintain its efficiency.

Surround Air is pretty confident of this machine’s quality that it offers a risk free guarantee of 30 days where it is willing to refund the whole of the amount if you are not happy with the machine. In the testing period, there were no noticeable flaws with the machine but some customers had problems with the UV filtration, which were immediately replaced. However, do check the dimensions of the machine carefully before purchasing as you might get something different from what it looks like in the photos.

Pros

• Great use of sensors and high efficiency
• Six stages of filtration are very effective
• Quiet mode is barely noticeable but cleans air anyway

Cons

• Sporadic cases of non-functioning UV lamp

The Rabbit Air BioGS SPA-582A is a small but incredibly powerful air purifier that is capable of treating rooms as large as 780 sq.ft. The machine comes with washable filters that help in keeping the maintenance costs down and a motor that is powerful enough to circulate the air in a room at least twice an hour. All the power is packed into a rather small package that is ideal for use in large areas such as a living area with a high ceiling or an office.

On first looks, one would not expect this machine to be as powerful as it is because of the size and the aesthetics. It has a minimal design with a bold front and vents on the top and side. This air purifier can be set on the floor or a table top depending on the convenience but it works best when it is not surrounded by anything. It has a neat operating panel on the front that is easy to read and use and setting it takes hardly a few minutes.

The BioGS SPA-582A is among the best high-end machines in the market. It is not cheap but it is well worth the money as it has several purification systems that work to remove nearly all the dust and even germs and the like from the air. In addition, it can remove all the odors effectively while the lint and other visible dust are trapped by the pre-filters. The purification system includes the pre-filters that are washable for easy maintenance followed by carbon pre-filters, which run on activated charcoal. These are followed by the unique BioGS HEPA filter, which is essential for getting rid of all the allergens and any disease causing microbes. The BioGS HEPA filter is exactly what makes this machine so useful for those who are prone to allergies. Users who have been running this machine have reported that they have seen a drastic decrease in the frequency of allergy attacks.

This air purifier is also tuned for the optimum energy consumption. There are sensors, which detect the air quality and adjust the fan speed accordingly. This allows for easy maintenance in cleaning the filters as well. The machine is very convenient as it comes with a remote, which can control all the functions from a distance. The fan speed can be manually adjusted with a single press and there are five different speeds. The lowest speed is barely audible and even at the highest power it is no more louder than a buzz. The turbo mode happens to be very effective and after running for a little while, the air is noticeably cleaner.

This machine has a wide airflow so it can reach all the corners of the room in which it is being used and service the area uniformly unlike the unidirectional airflow machines, which can direct the air, say only upwards. There are several color variants available, each one is as attractive as the next, and you can make the choice depending upon which room it has to be used in.

For its price, this machine is easily the best and worth every penny spent. There are hardly any downsides to this machine and almost all the users are happy with it. The only exception is that the machine tends to be a little instable on low fan speeds due to the position of the axis but it doesn’t affect functionality as the only result is that the purifier vibrates a bit. Overall, one of the highest rated and recommended machines in the market.

Pros

• Very effective air purification
• Easy to maintain filters
• Automatic sensors and speed control
• Remote for easy use

Cons

• Shakes a little on low speed

A great mid-range air purifier for your room that looks futuristic is the Hoover WH10600 with TiO₂ Technology. This machine is ideal for medium to large sized bedrooms and can effectively clean the air in areas as large as 200-sq.ft. This machine comes with the revolutionary Titanium Dioxide method to clean the air, which boosts the efficiency and potency of the UV filtration process by several folds. This mechanism, in addition to the regular filtration process makes this air purifier from Hoover one of the most effective in the market today.

Once you unbox the machine, the first thing that you will notice is that it is quite different from the conventional air purifiers. This one has a rather curvy design that is meant to go well with any area of the room, whether it is the corner or by the side of a bed. Moreover, the grills and air vents are reminiscent of a wraparound mechanism to increase the efficiency of the outflow.

The filtration system used in this air purifier is similar to most competition with the one exception. While the pre-filter aims to trap the bigger dust particles and get rid of the grime and the like, the HEPA filter is where the finer particulate filtration takes place. The HEPA filter is permanent and needs cleaning only once or twice a year. In addition to these basic mechanisms, there is a UV lamp that is boosted by the TiO₂ technology. The UV lamp radiates the bacteria and other microorganisms, which are then easily killed. The use of TiO₂ in the air purifier works to eliminate even the most potent of bacteria.

The best part of the machine is easily the control panel on the top. There is nothing that you cannot do with this panel at your fingertips as it controls almost every aspect of the machine. There are several indicators in the panel that tell you the quality level of the air and the speed of the fan and many more functions. In fact, it is this panel that you choose the timer and power settings from so that you can get the best out of the air purifier. The timer lets you run the machine for as long as you want and then it has an automatic shut off. This is best if you are using it in the bedroom and want some peace in the middle of the night.

The Hoover WH10600 is a very quiet air purifier but it is quite effective at the same time. Though the recommended area of use was around 150-sq.ft, it can be put in a room that is slightly bigger and the results will still be pretty impressive. Furthermore, the machine’s adjustable levels of power and fan speed are great to get the best out of it. At high speeds, there might be some slight noise but it is quite manageable.

The remote control makes for a convenient adjustment mechanism but once the right setting is made, there is hardly any need to change it. This machine is easily one of the best in the market right now and offers great value for money. Most users are happy with this fine equipment but there are a few who would like a few improvements or additions. The UV filter might have replaced the ionizer but it would have been preferable to have one anyway to further reduce the quantity of allergens in the house. This is indeed a great machine to buy and you will have almost no problems with it.

Pros

• Great value for money
• Remote control makes using the machine very easy
• Control panel has impressive displays
• Very quiet while working in low power

Cons

• No ionizer included
• High power is slightly noisy

For small rooms that are already short on space and cannot afford to have large air purifiers, the Honeywell HHT-011 HEPAClean Compact Air Purifier is the perfect choice. With dimensions small enough to snuggle away in a corner or it can be placed on a small table. This purifier is perfect for rooms that are no larger than 85-sq.ft.

Despite the small size, the Honeywell HHT-011 packs quite a bit of power and keeps the area dust free to a very large extent. This can be attributed to the three layers of filters that are built in the machine. The first filter is obviously the pre-filter that can be removed and washed whenever necessary. The key feature comes in the second one, which is the permanent HEPA filter. This filter looks stable enough to be used in laboratories. It is very effective and sample analysis as part of the testing showed that the HEPA filter is very efficient and effectively eliminates the dust particles and other germs and microorganisms that might have invaded your private space. The next layer is an ionizer, which is optional but should be used if you want clean air to breathe.

Coming to the technical details of this air purifier, it has to be said that its performance is rather impressive and since it was recommended by the manufacturer for small rooms, that is where it was tested. The machine makes almost zero noise as it filters liters of air from the sidelines. There was a noticeable difference in the room after opening up a window for a while, then closing it and running the air purifier for about an hour. Of course, an hour was stretching the time a little to get results but you can leave the machine running for about 15 minutes and breathe clean and safe air.

The pre-filter is where the bigger dust particles get stuck and if you use the machine on a continuous basis, it might require cleaning. There is nothing to worry about though as cleaning this pre-filter is child’s play. You merely need to soak it in cold water for a while and then use a fine brush to get rid of the grime that forms in the pores of the filter. The HEPA filter is permanent and there is nothing that you can do about it. It does its job perfectly and gets rid of the germs for you. The HEPA filter is really what makes this purifier great. Competing air purifiers of a similar size and capacity are devoid of a HEPA filter and rely purely on the pre-filter and the ionizer to purify the air. The result is that the Honeywell HHT-011 emerges the winner.

The machine has three levels of power that can be adjusted and at the lowest level, the sound merges into the background. In addition, it comes with a light that offers slight illumination without being too hard on the eyes. It can run all through the night and you will get used to it in a couple of days at the most. At higher power levels, it does make a buzzing sound but then again, you will not have to run it for too long in the high power mode as the air gets purified almost immediately.

On the whole, the machine is great for small rooms such as a small bedroom or a study, especially if you are short on space. This model has found great favor with users, many of whom have reported an improvement in their allergies after its use.

Pros

• Small size
• Permanent HEPA filter is very effective
• Ionizer removes almost all the dust in the house
• Little to no noise from the machine

Cons

• Pre-filter needs to be washed occasionally
• Running the machine for too long results in mild heating

For areas around 180-sq.ft, that is ideally a bedroom or a study, the Honeywell HFD-120-Q QuietClean Tower Air Purifier is a great option in terms of both design and functionality. It has an effective three-stage filtration process that removes most of the household dust and airborne particles. On the design front, this machine is shaped like a tower so it can sit away snugly in any corner and not occupy too much space. The overall aesthetics of the machine are impressive and the black one is more appealing.

The Honeywell HFD-120-Q is the type of machine that stands out in a lineup of air purifiers and its design will make you want to buy it. The vertical grill makes a stylish statement though that might not be of utmost importance when looking for an air purifier. Coming to the functionality of this machine, it has to be said that this is one of the most powerful ones in the market for the size of rooms it can service. The three-stage filtration process comprises a permanent pre-filter that can be removed and washed at any time. This is followed by the IFD filter or ionizer that can remove most of the fine particles. The IFD is supported by a HEPA filter on the back that does the final processing and offers clean air to breathe.

Performance wise, this machine can churn out the air in a room around three times per hour. This is quite sufficient for a bedroom and the machine does this very quietly too. The testing was done in a rather dusty room and the various power levels of the machine were tested out as well. The results were felt in a short while and there was a noticeable positive change in the odors in the air.

The Honeywell HFD-120-Q air purifier features several neat tools that make using the machine almost enjoyable. Firstly, the three levels of fan speed can be controlled using a small touch panel. On the lowest level, the machine is very quiet and at the highest level, all you can hear is a buzzing. You can choose either depending on whether you want silent purifying in the background or a quick way to get rid of the dust in your room. On this machine, the pre-filter doesn’t need to be replaced. It can just be removed and cleaned by either washing or vacuuming when the indicator on the top shows that the filter is clogged. This filter traps the large, visible particles in the air and is very critical to the whole process and not having to replace it reduces the maintenance cost drastically.

This machine scores well on several fronts but there are certain areas that can be improved. Firstly, there is no option of a digital timer or sleep mode. The three levels of fan speed need to be readjusted manually and if you use this in the bedroom, there is a chance that it might need adjusting in the middle of the night: something that should be avoided. The other aspect is that this machine doesn’t let you separate out the HEPA filters and ionizers. It is more effective when both are in use but the ionizer is not always needed or suitable and the option to use them individually is something Honeywell should look into.
On the whole, this machine is great and is ideal for those on a budget looking to clean up the air in medium sized rooms. With a low power consumption and even lower maintenance cost, the Honeywell HFD-120-Q is definitely a worthwhile investment.

Pros

• Stylish design
• Quiet but effective air purifying
• Permanent and washable pre-filter

Cons

• No timer control
• Ionizer cannot be separated

Honeywell, one of the world leaders in household products has outdone itself in the air purifiers department with the development of the Honeywell 50250 Round Air Purifier. With a perfectly circular design that allows for airflow in all directions, this machine is capable of servicing large rooms up to 400 sq.ft in area. The new models from Honeywell, including this one are all priced quite reasonably and they offer some of the most effective air purification in the market.

The machine comes with the standard filtering process, which uses a carbon pre-filter that is followed by a true HEPA air filter. The difference between the HEPA filter used here and the normal HEPA filters is that this one doesn’t need to be replaced unlike the ones in some of the older air purifiers which require frequent, if not at least occasional replacement of the filter as they get clogged up with the dust and other particles. This HEPA filter is a permanent filter and it requires to be cleaned only once or twice in a year. The same can be done with just a vacuum and if it is particularly dirty, it can be cleaned by just washing. The pre-filter on the other hand is not permanent and needs replacing whenever necessary as instructed by the indicator built into the machine. The pre-filter health indicator is virtually a lifesaver as it tells you exactly when to replace the filter to optimize the air purifier.

The circular design of the machine allows you to use it in any area of the room and not compromise on quality of air purification. In addition, the large inlets allow for maximum air intake to ensure that the air is purified as quickly as possible. Testing in a reasonably dust filled room, which was exposed to the outdoor for a while, didn’t take very long.

Most of the time, circular household appliances are frowned upon because they occupy a lot of space but that is not the case with the Honeywell 50250. It measures smaller than most conventional air purifiers, but performs at the same level. In fact, it measures only 18”x19”. The machine features three fan speeds that have to be manually adjusted. There is a clear distinction in terms of the power of these speeds as the highest one is quite noisy when compared to the lowest. The high power fan speed is far more effective as well and it can get rid of almost all the dust and disease causing organisms living in your room. This machine is great for those who suffer from sort of allergy or disease caused by airborne organisms.

The Honeywell 50250 is among the best-rated machines by consumers who are looking for clean air within a budget. However, it does have some downsides such as the absence of a remote control or automatic sensors and speed adjustment. The machine makes up for these with its unique and effective design and the offer of a 5-year warranty. This means that you can be sure of the quality of the machine for 5 years. Moreover, the pre-filter needs replacement only rarely whereas the HEPA filter is very cheap to maintain.

Pros

• Effective circular intake for best cleaning
• Small footprint and suitable for any area in the room
• Great value for money

Cons

• High power consumption
• Noisy at high fan speeds

Honeywell seems to be keeping up the line of air purifiers to a certain standard of quiet with the Honeywell 18155 Silent Comfort True HEPA air purifier. As the name suggests, the most striking feature of this machine is the level of noise that it produces, which is almost zero.

For an air purifier to prove satisfactory, it has to be able to do several things and cleaning the air in the room is obviously at the forefront. This machine has a carbon pre-filter that is capable of trapping the large particles of dust including lint and any allergens. The pre-filter is supported by a 0.3-micron HEPA filter that churns out clean air at an impressive rate; it can clean the air in a 225-sq.ft room almost 5 times per hour. While the recommended size is limited at 225-sq.ft, it was stretched a bit to 300-sq.ft and the machine provided good results there as well albeit at a slower pace.

The HEPA filter in this machine is permanent requiring no replacement whatsoever. It can be cleaned with ease and it needs only around 2-3 cleanings every year, thereby lowering maintenance costs. The carbon pre filter can also be washed and together these filter almost all the bacteria and according to the manufacturer, 99.97% of dust particles. Though there is no concrete method to test these claims, it seems that the room is almost clear as crystal after running the machine.

A lot of air purifiers work by letting out a direct exhaust but the Honeywell 18155 has a no-draft mechanism and this part is bypassed. The result is a more efficient air purification process followed by the maintenance of temperature in the room, which can be controlled by the direction of the outflow. With the absence of the cold air exhaust, the room odors are also more efficiently processed as comparison studies with various machines showed. In addition to this, this air purifier features a fan speed control at three varying levels that can be used accordingly. The lowest level is great for using during the night if it is in a bedroom and if you are using the machine after long periods, the high power mode removes the dust particles easily in the room. The best part of this is that even at the high power mode, the fan doesn’t make too much noise and you can carry on normal conversations in the room.

While this machine is truly quiet and effectively purifies air to a large extent, there are some aspects of it that aren’t exactly very impressive. Firstly, there is no ionizer. Now, there are some studies that show that an ionizer is not advisable but if it can be used when nobody is in the room, the air gets cleaner. It should have been included with the option of separate use. The next aspect is the size. This machine is rather bulky and a tad heavy. There is a neat convenient handle on the top to ensure that you can carry it with ease but some of the slim competition wins in this aspect.

Overall, the machine is worth buying especially if you need relief from asthma or other allergies. The size is quite large but if you can have a 225-sq.ft room, it really shouldn’t bother you too much except when moving it around.

Pros

• Very quiet
• Effective cleaning mechanisms
• No-draft technology is very efficient

Cons

• No ionizer
• Bulky and a tad difficult to move around

The Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier is ideal for purifying air in small to medium-sized rooms of up to 186 square feet.  It offers two-stage cleaning. 

First, the pre-filter which removes the larger particles which would otherwise clog the IFD filter.  Second, the IFD filter which removes 99.97 percent of all airborne particles, including pet dander, dust, pollen, tobacco smoke and mold. 

The HFD-120-Q also features a built-in ionizer the neutralizes dust particles in the air, allowing them to be swept away in your vacuum.  Contaminants and dust are almost completely eliminated from your environment. The Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier operates quietly in all 3 settings and the pre-filter is washable, which eliminates the need to purchase costly replacements every few months. 

The pre-filter is permanent and can be removed for easy cleaning.  This feature alone saves the user hundreds of dollars in replacement filter costs each year.  It’s oscillating feature allows for constant circulation of fresh, clean air, all throughout your room, and can even be used to replace regular fans.  Small enough to fit on a nightstand and powerful enough to clean the air in any medium sized room.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Features and Specs

• HEPAQuiet air purifier; Permanent, washable pre-filter; Ideal for medium-sized rooms up to 186 square feet
• Electronic filter check indicator
• Build-in ionizer
• Dimensions: 28.7” x 11.22” x 10”; weighs 13 pounds
• 5-Year limited warranty

Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier Reviews 

For those who suffer from allergies or other breathing problems, air quality control becomes a very important factor.  Others may not notice pet dander or smoke or other pollutants in the air but these people certainly do and finding a purifier that really works becomes essential.  The reviews for the HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier are all quite lengthy because these people understand the health issues involved and that it’s important to present all the facts. 

Honeywell is a well known name in the industry and they have several different air purifiers.  There are a lot of competing brands on the market but most reviewers agreed – they know and trust the Honeywell name, so purchasing the HFD-120 was an easy decision.

However, in the end, it’s all about performance and the users are very happy with this purifier for a number of reasons.  One, it really does improve the air quality, removing more than 99.97 percent of pollutant particles from the air and even eliminating odors. 

The ionizing feature also grounds any remaining dust particles so they’re swept up when you vacuum.  And most users agreed that this model makes very little noise, even when you’re using it at its highest setting.  In fact, one user has it positioned on the nightstand, right next to her bed. 

The oscillating feature of the Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier with Permanent IFD Filter is especially nice because it not only pulls in more of the surrounding air but it circulates clean air throughout the entire room.

On first looks, the BlueAir 403 HepaSilent Air-Purification System looks rather big and if you plan to use it in a bedroom or in a living area, it is best to keep it next to something big like a wardrobe to ensure that it doesn’t become the centerpiece of the room. The machine is finished to a grey metallic matte feel that goes with the robust power of the machine. The BlueAir 403 is designed for those who like the air in their homes clear as crystal as it is capable of eliminating nearly all the dust and other particles in the room. It is recommended for use in rooms as large as 365 sq.ft but it can be stretched to larger areas provided the right power setting is used.

The BlueAir 403 is an incredibly powerful machine. It is capable of replacing the air in a 365 sq.ft rooms as many as five times per hour. This machine relies heavily on the HEPA filter for its purification, which is a great idea, as these filters are very effective in removing pollutants. In fact, the technology used here is a modification of the HEPA filter and is known as the HEPASilent, which is far quieter than the regular filter. It is for that reason that this machine is indeed one of the quietest in the market today.

When compared with other machines its size, it is easily the quietest and is quieter than a lot of smaller machines too. The key is the design. Though it might look nothing more than a box, it is indeed very effective in cutting down the noise coming from the motor. The specifications on the site say that this machine has a speed control in three stages but it actually has four levels. The lowest is meant for maintaining the current quality of air as it takes a long time to circulate it all efficiently. The higher levels clean effectively but they don’t make much noise either. For a clear idea, it is very easy to make comfortable conversation even if the machine is running in high power in a corner of the room.

The filters that are built into the machine are critical for trapping the large dust particles. These are linked to a sensor and a magnetic display that can be put anywhere in the house which shows when the filter needs replacement. Replacing is an easy job and the best part is that all the filters are recyclable so there is really no environmental damage from using this machine.

The vents of the BlueAir 403 are positioned strategically with nothing on the top or the back. This means that you can position it against a wall and even use the top to put something light on it. Though the vents are only along the side, they are very effective and it is easy to feel the air from this machine at the opposite corner of the room as well.

This machine is great for use at home provided it is reasonably sized as it occupies a little more space than normal air purifiers. However, with a motor as quiet as the one inside this, there should be no problems. In fact, most users were very happy with this machine and there no areas of improvement for this machine with the exception of a reduction in size, which is again very trivial. There are other higher series machines in the same line but they are far louder than this, which easily dominates the air purifier market now.

Pros

• Quiet and very effective air purification system
• Great design for optimum space use
• Recyclable filters

Cons

• Size could be smaller but that is only aesthetic

The Electrolux EL500AZ Oxygen Ultra Air Cleaner is one of the air purifiers currently on the market that is equally tough on both dust and odors that make you uncomfortable in your house. With a design reminiscent of the vintage radiators, this one can sit snugly in a corner of your bedroom, living room or even in your office and quietly get rid of all the airborne particles. This machine is one of the high-end ones but is definitely worth every penny as it is very effective and stylish too. Moreover, it has one of the lowest maintenance costs. Interested? Read on then.

On first looks, the design is pretty impressive and eye catchy. The inlets are only subtly noticeable to the eye as they are tucked away under the folds of the machine, which give a greater volume of air intake. On running the machine, it becomes evident that the level of noise is very low. The machine is no more audible than a whisper at its lowest power settings and yet it is able to maintain the quality of air in a clean room. The power is adjustable on five different levels and at the highest power, it makes a buzz or a roar type of noise but the good part here is that you don’t have to keep it at that setting for too long. Set it for a couple of minutes to a half hour and any average bedroom will be cleaned entirely of the lurking dust particles.

The Electrolux EL500AZ has a unique cleaning procedure that renders the air coming out of it free of most dust and microbes. As opposed to the regular machines that have a three-stage filter, this one has five filters out of which four are carbon filters and the last is the HEPA filter. The carbon filters progressively filter the dust and the HEPA is great for removing the invisible bacteria and the like. All of them can be cleaned but the carbon filters will need to be replaced whenever necessary, especially if the machine is to be used in a dusty environment.

This machine is suitable for use in rooms as large as 400 sq.ft. That means if you are using it even in a large bedroom, it doesn’t need to be set at high power rating, thereby minimizing the cost of operation. Moreover, there are sensors operating in the machine that read the odor level and adjust the machine automatically to ensure that power is used in the most efficient way but all the odors are removed. This auto setting is perfect and it costs less than a dollar a day if the machine is operated in the automatic mode. Moreover, the ionizer is also effectively used to make the particulate matter as small as possible before cleaning it so as to best get rid of it.

This machine is as close to perfect as you can get and there are hardly any downsides to it. Nearly all the users who bought this machine have found that it exceeded their expectations and there are no complaints regarding the quality of air it produces. The only area of improvement is for the noise level at the highest power setting to be lowered to a comfortable level. Currently, the machine makes a bit of a noise at that power. Electrolux seems to be quite confident about this machine as it offers a great warranty scheme on it. This machine is well worth every penny you invest in it.

Pros

• Great 5 level air cleaning process
• Auto mode is very cost effective
• Sleek design for use in all rooms and offices

Cons

• Noise at high power could be lower

The Honeywell 17000 QuietCare Air Purifier goes in tune with the other Honeywell products as it maintains surprising silence while it churns out the dust and microbes from the air in a room. It is suitable for use in a bedroom or a medium sized living area and is quite powerful for its size. The shape of the machine is slightly disorienting at first but it is rather effective as the air has the right outflow from all sides.

The first thing that you will notice about the machine is the unconventional shape. It is broadly cylindrical but at the top is curved for a bit and then flattened to accommodate the control buttons and the handle that makes carrying the machine very easy. The curved design may seem like it takes up a lot of space but in reality, the overall dimensions are fairly small so it can be placed even on a cabinet or the like, although that is not advisable.

Coming to the performance of the machine, it features the usual two-stage filtration process. However, the pre-filter here has been optimized and is very effective. It is capable of trapping almost all the dust particles that settle on tables and require you to clean them up. The filter can be removed and replaced easily and according to the manufacturer, this can be cleaned a couple of times before it needs complete replacement. Behind the pre-filter is the HEPA filter that is responsible for getting rid of the allergens, bacteria and other disease causing organisms. The claim is that after two stages of filtering, the air is 99.97% free of dust and bacteria but it stands unverified. However, the testing showed that this machine is indeed capable of wonders, but in a room that is no more than 170 sq.ft. The Honeywell 17000 packs enough power to filter the air in a room of 170 sq.ft about 6 times in an hour and it does that very effectively and quietly. There are no sudden increases in the noise levels and neither is there any stuttering.

Controlling the air purifier is a simple job and there are three levels to choose from. These are all adjusted manually and considering the purifier’s price, it would be unreasonable to expect an automatic sensor and adjustment system. The impressive aspect here is that all the three levels are fairly quiet and you wouldn’t notice the noise in the background even in the high power mode. The purification is obviously stronger in the higher ranges but the low power can be comfortably, in fact soothingly used at night while sleeping. For convenience, Honeywell has included meters that show how clean the filters are and these are useful to know when the filter needs to be cleaned or changed.

On the whole, this machine is great as it offers great value for money. There is no automatic adjustment facility and the design might not be greatly appealing despite its reasonable functionality. In addition, while the machine is quiet initially, users have reported that it gets a little noisy as you use it. The Honeywell 17000 is one of the decent air purifiers in the market today and if you don’t mind the design and if it falls within your budget, by all means go for it and you will not regret your choice.

Pros

• Impressive value for money
• Shows how clean the filters are
• Quiet but powerful

Cons

• Design is slightly unflattering
• Gets noisy with repeated use