Rated

If you did no more than look at a photo you might not see any difference between the Winix FresHome P450, the P300, and the P150. In fact, while they house substantially similar technology, they offer equally substantial differences in specs and air purifying power.

Basic Specs

The basic case design of all three models – the Winix P450, the P300, and the P150 – is very much the same. That’s why it’s easy to be fooled by a photo. Each is a modified black-striped white rectangle with the panel on the top. But even in this area the differences become clear with a closer look.

• The P450 measures: 18.9″ wide x 25.6″ high x 11.8″ deep, while
• the P300 measures: 16.3″ wide x 21.7″ high x 10.4″ deep, and
• the P150 measures: 13.8″ wide x 18.5″ high x 9.1″ deep.

Those figures might give you the impression that the P150 and P300 are just scaled down versions of the P450, and in a way that’s right. After all, the weights go from:

• P450 = 19.40 lbs
• P300 = 13.95 lbs
• P150 = 11.15 lbs

But size (and weight) can be misleading. The difference in case volume and mass signal far more than just corner space required or ease of movement. Inside, where it counts, there are considerable differences in the three models.

Air Power, Coverage, and CADRs

Far more significant than mere size variations in the latest Winix air purifier models are the differences in how much air they can cleanse and how quickly. You see that right away in the air processing volume spec for each model, the CFM (cubic feet per meter) of air each one pumps. The figures vary for each model, naturally, depending on fan speed. Here they are:

• P450 – 50 (Quiet), 110 (Med), 175 (High), 290 (Turbo)
• P300 – 40 (Quiet), 90 (Med), 140 (High), 195 (Turbo)
• P150 – 25 (Quiet), 45 (Med), 70 (High), 99 (Turbo)

You can see at a glance that the differences are not trivial and far from gradual. Even on the lowest speed, for example, it jumps 60% from the P150 to the P300. Similarly, the jump from the P300 to the P450 at the highest speed is almost 50%.

Looked at that way, it’s not surprising then that the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) numbers follow a similar pattern.

• P450 – 298 (Dust), 291 (Smoke), 343 (Pollen)
• P300 – 197 (Dust), 197 (Smoke), 214 (Pollen)
• P150 – 98 (Dust), 98 (Smoke), 103 (Pollen)

We can see here just how weak is the P150 in comparison to the other two FresHome models. That difference alone suggests that model really isn’t a worthwhile choice except possibly to purify the smallest of rooms. That hint is confirmed when we look at the area ratings for each model.

• P450 – 450 square feet (~21 ft x 21 ft)
• P300 – 300 square feet (~17 ft x 17 ft)
• P150 – 150 square feet (~12 ft x 12 ft)

Keep in mind, all ratings assume a standard ceiling height of 8 feet.

So, it might seem that the P150 would be a good choice for an ordinary home office, and it might well be. But bear in mind also that the actual area purified is usually a little less in real-world use than these ratings state. So, unless you have a very small room, and it can be kept purified continually with only very modest effort, the P150 simply isn’t going to have enough ‘oomph’ to do the job.

Well, at least it’s not hard to see where the Winix models get their names.

3-Stage Filtration Systems

Fortunately, despite their considerable and important differences, the technology each Winix model uses is still very much present in each one.

Stage 1 consists of a carbon pre-filter that helps remove the largest particles. That performs an important air cleansing function all its own – besides hair and lint, it filters out many household odors, for example. But it has an equally important purpose: to help the later stages work more efficiently.

Stage 2 is critical, since that one houses the True HEPA filter that makes all these air purifiers more than simply room fresheners. A True HEPA has to filter out at least 99.97% of particles no larger than 0.3 microns in size to qualify for the label. The special material and thousands of folds are what scour out pet dander, mold spores, and other airborne allergens.

Stage 3 is where the real differentiator of a Winix resides, though. This is the company’s proprietary PlasmaWave technology. It’s far more than just a marketing buzzword. For a more detailed explanation of how it works read the Winix P450 review.

Noise Levels

One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is noise level. That’s because it really doesn’t matter much here. True, the P150 puts out only 52 db on Turbo but the P450 is only moderately louder at 60 db. The P300 comes in at 55 db.

The numbers aren’t linear, so don’t be misled. You can definitely hear the P450 working when it’s running at the highest speed. But even this high-end model working as hard as it can is far from deafening. Keep it across the room from the couch near the TV and you probably won’t mind the noise.

Automation and Remote Control

Other aspects of the P150, P300, and P450 matter even less. They all use essentially the same sensors. All of them monitor the air flow and kick up to the higher speeds automatically, as needed. They all house the same controls to do that manually, if you prefer. They all offer the same fine visual indicators on the top panel.

There is one difference between the P150 and the P300 or P450 that might push some buyers away from the smallest unit, even aside from the room size/CADR issue. The P150 does not come with the remote control unit. How important that is will vary from one person to the next, of course, but for those who have difficulty getting around it can be a dealmaker.

Summary

A careful examination of the specs – and real-world use – of the Winix FresHome P150, P300, and P450 air purifiers shows they differ in much more than just size. Even discounting room area coverage, the P150 comes up short. That leaves the P300 and P450 as viable choices. There, it’s simply the usual tradeoff between price versus performance required. Let your budget and circumstances be your guide.

The Winix 5500 is a newer model than the Winix 5300. Does that make the 5300 obsolete? Should you just automatically purchase the newer model without bothering to look back? Let’s see…

Winix Inc has established a place in a very crowded home air purifier market and maintained it well over the past few years. They’ve done that by offering a lot of value for your money. Good examples are the Winix 5300 and the follow-on model, the 5500, both of which are still produced and supported by Winix.

Similarities

There’s a lot to like about both models.

For example, each offers essentially the same powerful fan that runs at four separate speeds: Quiet/Low, Medium, High, and Turbo. Each runs undetectably quiet on the lowest speed, a bare whisper at medium, and not really annoying at the high speed. Only in Turbo mode does the sound become (possibly) enough to interfere with conversation or hearing the TV easily. As a result of that fan and the filter system, both the 5300 and the 5500 have the same very respectable Clean Air Delivery Rates.

• 252 Pollen
• 248 Dust
• 236 Smoke

But those numbers do you little good unless you understand how CADRs are created. Without going into a lot of technical detail, they essentially measure how much air can be cleared in how much time.

The best thing to do if you don’t already own a home air purifier is compare those numbers to several other models of similar price. Comparing similarly priced models is key because you’ll see models, like the Blueair 503 for example, that list CADRs like 375 for all three categories. But it also costs double that of the Winix 5300 or 5500.

More Similarities – 3 Stage Purification System

The 5300 and 5500 have very similar filter systems. Each is a three stage system.

Stage 1 is a carbon filter. Carbon molecules in a mesh have a very large, chemically reactive surface area. That’s a fancy way of saying a lot of things stick to them and there are lots of places for them to stick. This section clears large dust particles, pet hair, and other room pollutants.

Winix filters offer less carbon than some other manufacturers model’s but they’re decent. In addition, they coat the filter with an antimicrobial compound to zap some microorganisms before they get to the HEPA filter in the next stage. That lengthens the life of the HEPA filter. However, some very sensitive buyers may object to the somewhat insecticide-like smell. It’s subtle, but some users do notice it.

Both models have this same advantage/drawback, so there’s nothing to distinguish them here except that the newer model has a slightly improved version. That is the 5500 filter’s odor is a little harder to detect.

Stage 2 is that previously mentioned HEPA filter and it hasn’t seen any significant change in filtration ability between the two models.

It’s not the equal of ones you’ll see in some high-end models like the awe-inspiring IQAir HealthPro Plus, but it’s good. On the other hand, that IQAir HyperHEPA model is three times or more the price of either Winix unit. The Winix HEPA certainly gets the job done, at least for all but the uber-sensitive. If you are, consider biting the bullet and buying something like the HealthPro.

Stage 3 in each model houses the company’s proprietary Plasmawave technology. That technology is Winix’s adaptation of something invented by Sharp and used in their Plasmacluster models. A plate inside generates positive and negative ions that are then expelled from the unit. They combine with airborne water molecules to produce hydroxyl radicals (negatively-charged OH molecules.

Those hydroxyls then break down VOCs (volatile organic compounds), such as those from cleaning products, gasoline exhaust fumes, and the like. They also zap airborne microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and the like – that can cause disease or generate allergic reactions.

There’s no major change between the two models because there was no need. That said, manufacturing quality has possibly improved a bit because there are many fewer complaints about the crackling noise from the ionizer. The 5300 has a noise that bothered some buyers; the 5500 seems to have improved on this.

Differences – Hepa Filter

The differences between the 5300, beyond improvements in quality control, are few and subtle, but may be important to some potential buyers.

First and foremost is the HEPA filter change between the two. The two filter the same but the HEPA filter in the 5500 is washable. That might not sound like much but it can be a big deal. HEPA filters are pricey and, despite what some manufacturers claim, do have to be changed sooner or later.

The one in the Winix 5300 was recommended to change about once per year. That will vary depending on room size and pollutant levels, of course, but it can only be stretched so far. By contrast, the HEPA in the 5500 can last the rated 2-3 years with proper care. Wash it well about every three months (when you change the carbon filter) and it will keep working at near-new capacity. That decreases your annual maintenance costs by two-thirds on this component.

One qualifier though. Washing, per se, doesn’t decrease the effectiveness. HEPA filters work as they do chiefly because of their physical characteristics, not any chemical coating. But no matter how well you wash them there will always be some material that doesn’t get removed and eventually the tiny ‘channels’ do get (at least partly) plugged.

More Differences – Remote Control

The other difference between both models is the remote control. The former lacked one but the 5500 has one. Whether that’s important to you is strictly a personal choice. Some owners barely use a remote for their home air purifier; others would suffer greatly without it.

The remote on the 5500 isn’t fancy but it is sufficient. It lets you set the fan speed manually and turn on/off the Plasmawave ionizer as well as the unit as a whole.

That said, both models are highly automatic. The sensor detects when to shift the fan speed. The sensor in the 5300 was an odor detector but the one in the 5500 is a particle detector. The difference is subtle and which works better is a matter of some controversy but both work well. So, whether you will feel the need for a remote control, even if you have limited movement ability, is an open question.

Summary

The Winix 5300 and the Winix 5500 are almost identical units. The differences are few and subtle. Both are fine mid-range home air purifiers. Which one is best for you, if either, only you can decide. Suffice to say, you can’t go wrong with either one if your room is not too large nor your nose, eyes, and lungs too sensitive. If they are, I recommend a higher end unit instead.

The Winix 9300 and 9500 home air purifiers are both fine units. In fact, they’re so similar in so many respects it can be hard to choose between them. Let’s take a closer look to see if there’s anything in the details to help decide between them…

Filter System – 5 Stages

The Winix 9300 model is slightly older than the 9500 but even then had pretty much the same fine filter system. This 5-stage system consists of:

Stage 1: Treated pre-filter. This removes large dust particles, pet hair, and much more from the airstream. That lets the filters later in line do a much better job of getting the small stuff. Apart from the usual improvements in quality control of later models, in this case slight to non-existent, there’s really no difference between the two here. Each models’ filter is coated with the same anti-microbial compound.

Stage 2: Washable HEPA filter. Unlike the Winix 5300 the HEPA filter in the 9300 and 9500 is washable. Here again, no difference. Both effectively remove smoke, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, and more.

Stage 3: Nano-silvered anti-microbial mesh filter. The buzzword “nano” aside (essentially meaningless here), this filter really does add value. Silver has the ability to kill a wide range of microorganisms. Here again though there’s no difference between the two models. Any 9300 sold today will carry the same filter as the newer 9500 – unless it happened to have been manufactured a year ago. That’s something to watch for in any case. Filters that sit unwrapped inside the unit will inevitably decay slightly over time. Their effectiveness is reduced by passively absorbing material from the air while still inside the box. It’s slower than ordinary use, but it does reduce the initial filter’s lifetime.

Stage 4: Washable advanced odor control (AOC) carbon filter. Differing from the Stage 1 filter, this is designed to remove smaller particles, including those tiny ones that come in the form of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). That reduces unpleasant odors but also improves room air by reducing noxious compounds. Those are a particular concern of chemically sensitive users – a large portion of the home air purifier market. But in this case, too, the 9300 carries exactly the same filter as the 9500.

Stage 5: PlasmaWave technology. This section holds Winix’s proprietary ionizer. Unlike older methods that use ozone, it generates positive and negative ions that combine with airborne water molecules to create OH ions (hydroxyl radicals). Those degrade airborne pollutants and kill many microorganisms that don’t make their way into the purifier. In this case, there is a slight difference between the two units. The design is the same in each case but Winix has improved on quality control. There are now many fewer buyers who complain about the low crackling noise the older unit use to sometimes emit during operation.

Operation, Performance, and Stats

At last we start to find some significant differences between both Winix air cleaners.

The Clean Air Delivery Rates between the two models show a notable difference. The CADR values for the 9300 are 142/138/145 (Dust/Smoke/Pollen) and 182/183/194 (Dust/Smoke/Pollen) for the 9500. Without going into a long, technical explanation it’s enough to say that the 9500 really outshines the 9300 in this important area. It clears more air faster.

That said, these numbers have to be approached with caution when comparing to other manufacturers’ models. Different brands list these numbers for two, four, or six air changes per hour. Winix lists theirs for two per hour. So, when you see a model with different numbers it may well be because they are measuring for six per hour. That’s good, an indication of a superior model. However, those typically cost two to three times as much. You get what you pay for.

Sometimes you get a little more than you pay for, however. The 9500 covers a larger area (up to 284 square feet) than the 9300 (up to 213 sq ft), and yet costs only a little more. It’s listed as 50 more on the official Winix site but sells for only about 10 more at Amazon, currently.

Part of the difference between the two is no doubt explained by the difference in size. The 9500 is a little bigger – 16.5″ W x 21.9″ H x 8.9″ D vs the 9300’s 13.8″ W x 18.5″ H x 9.1″ D. It’s also moderately heavier, 18.8 lbs (9500) vs 13.7 lbs (9300).

Offsetting that advantage marginally, the 9300 uses a little less electricity on the highest setting – 50 watts vs 70 watts (9500). That tiny difference in monthly running cost won’t sway many buyers, who will happily pay a few cents extra for much cleaner air. That extra juice no doubt drives the Turbo speed a little higher, contributing to those better CADR numbers.

Speaking of costs… when it comes to filter replacement, the 9500 is also a bit more expensive. The 9500 requires the Winix all-in-one filter kit #119110. The 9300 requires the Winix all-in-one filter kit #119010.

Sensors, Indicators, and Controls

The sensors and indicators in the two units are pretty much the same. The replace filter light tells you when to replace the filter unit – on average once every year and a half or so. Whether this is 12 months or 18 months or 2 years or something in between heavily depends on your air quality and hours of operation, of course.

Each houses fine odor and particle detectors, along with a light sensor to automatically downshift the fan speed when you turn off the room light. That sensor/switch also dims the panel lights to allow you to sleep more easily.

Each comes with a remote control to manually adjust the fan speed, if desired. You can also use it to turn off/on the ion generator or the whole unit. Each offers the same array of air quality lights, fan speed indicator, and so on.

Summary

The Winix 9300 is a fine, mid-range home air purifier. If you can pick one up at a steep discount you will probably be quite satisfied. However, for my money, the better numbers (translating into better air quality) on the Winix 9500 make the choice easy. Still, you may prefer a smaller, lighter unit even if it clears a slightly smaller room.

I dislike gushing over products. I try to relate the pros and cons objectively and let the chips fall where they may. But in the case of the Winix Plasmawave 5500 it’s hard to suppress all enthusiasm. This is one of the best mid-range models the company has developed, in a line of already fine air purifiers.

Performance and Stats

An air purifier works well if you feel better about the air you breathe after it has done its job. Fortunately, there are objective criteria that provide confidence about whether a model can achieve that effect.

One of these is CADR, the Clean Air Delivery Rate, a measure of how much air the unit cleans, how fast. The numbers for the Winix 5500 are pretty good.

• 252 Pollen
• 248 Dust
• 236 Smoke

But how to interpret these numbers? That’s the key question. For a room no larger than about 350 square feet – roughly 18 feet by 18 feet, those figures assure you of a clean room at almost all times.

Almost, not always, because there may be short periods, for example, in homes of smokers or those who live near dusty roads, where the unit has to play ‘catch up’ after a burst of particles enters. At those times, you can switch the 5500 to manual on high to do extra-quick cleaning duty.

3 Stage Purification System

As with any air purifier, one of the reasons the unit operates well is the filter system. The Winix system is uniformly good and this model’s is no exception.

Stage 1 contains an Odor Control Carbon Pre-filter. Fancy phrase but the idea – and its implementation here – are actually simple and effective. Charcoal granules are very good at grabbing a lot of (relatively) large particles out of the air that passes near them. It’s also really good at removing unwanted gases, such as vapors from household cleaning products.

Winix goes beyond that elementary, nature-provided cleansing power by coating the pre-filter with an anti-microbial chemical that kills bacteria and fungi.

In stage 2 comes the Winix HEPA filter. The HEPA filter is a central component in any home air purifier and the one in the 5500 has been upgraded from the 5300. It is now washable.

Since ordinary HEPA filters have to be replaced every year or so (depending on usage and air quality) one that lasts longer can be a big savings. The longer you can use the one that comes with the unit the more economical the 5500 becomes. This one is rated to last 2-3 years, which can be stretched a bit in light-pollutant-level homes.

Just wash it when you replace the carbon pre-filter (about every three months) and it will keep working at near-new capacity for its rated lifetime. A light on the top of the housing illuminates when it should be replaced. It measures actual usage, not just the length of time you’ve had the filter installed.

Stage 3 in the Winix 5500’s filter system is something the company calls Plasmawave, a type of ionizer. The ionizer feature in the 5500 offers another layer of home air pollutant removal. Most air purifiers have one but the Winix technology works a little differently.

It pumps out positive and negative ions that react with airborne water molecules, creating hydroxyl radicals (negatively charged OH molecules). Those hydroxyls then break down VOCs (volatile organic compounds), such as those from cleaning products, gasoline exhaust fumes, and the like. They also zap airborne microorganisms that can cause disease or generate allergic reactions.

That is an effective, safe way to remove a considerably quantity of potentially harmful things that inhabit most homes. Older models (and some you can still find from other manufacturers) used ozone. While the health risks of pumping O3 molecules into your air were sometimes overstated, this method is better. Also, since those ions are put into the air they cleanse it without the pollutants even having to move through the unit’s filter system.

Sensors and Controls

That 3-stage filtration system wouldn’t be as effective if it weren’t supported by a number of useful sensors and controls. The 5500 has fewer than some other models but the ones that are there are sufficient and work well.

One is the air quality sensor. It measures the particulate levels in the air that passes through the system. The motor/fan then runs at any of four speeds – all of which can be selected manually – as it senses the need.

When particulate concentrations are high – say a wave of dust or allergens has floated near the unit – it automatically buzzes on Turbo for a while. When they’re low, it lazily spins along to maintain the air at a clean level.

That motor/fan pumps:

• 53 cfm (cubic feet per minute) on Quiet
• 113cfm on Medium
• 173cfm on High
• 226 cfm on Turbo.

Sometimes the noise when operating in Turbo mode can be annoying to sensitive people. Best to have the unit a little out of the way, if possible. That’s not too difficult, since it measures 21.7″ H x 16.3″ wide x 8.5″ deep. Moving it is also easy, as it weighs only 15.7 lbs.

Changing the speeds manually is easy from across the room using the remote control included in the box. You can also use it to turn off/on the plasma (ion) generator, or power off/on the unit as a whole.

Winix 5300 and 5500 – Same Models?

The 5500 is the follow-on model of the 5300, both of which are still produced and supported by Winix. There’s no major change between the two models because there was no need. That said, manufacturing quality has possibly improved a bit because there are many fewer complaints about the crackling noise from the ionizer.

The differences between the 5300, beyond improvements in quality control, are few and subtle, but may be important to some potential buyers. The 5500 carries a washable HEPA filter and comes with a remote control. Whether that justifies a higher price tag is a strictly personal choice of course. For a more in-depth comparison between these 2 models read our Winix 5300 vs 5500 comparison article.

Conclusion

The Winix 5500 model lacks some high-end features other models on the market offer. It also cleanses a smaller area than high-end versions. However, this unit also lacks the high price of those others.

That said, at this price point you could hardly ask for a more effective, low-maintenance-cost, easy-to-use home air purifier. The WAC5500 removes not just ordinary allergens – dust, pollen, bacteria, et al – but also VOCs, cooking odors, smoke, and other household air pollutants. For a mid-range unit with a mid-range price, that’s a great value.

It’s difficult to find a truly impressive home air purifier at a mid-range price. Often, the truly sensitive have to swallow hard and layout a 1000 to get something that will effectively tackle room air. The Winix 9500 manages to surprise and delight by doing that for less than 300.

Filter System – 5 Stages

One of the key aspects of any good air purifier is the filter system, obviously. The 9500 offers a 5-stage design that is much more than just a number. Each stage does an important job and does it well.

Stage 1 is a pre-filter that extracts the largest particles – dust, pet hair, and the like – from the air stream. You can see firsthand that it’s doing the job by letting the unit run for a month or so then opening up the unit for cleaning. Unless you live in an electronics manufacturer’s cleanroom you’ll easily spot a lot of material to vacuum off the filter.

That pre-filter is washable for even better removal of material. It’s also treated with an antibacterial compound that reduces the microorganisms the later stages have to deal with. However, some especially sensitive people might dislike the odor so this can be a mixed blessing.

Stage 2 offers a HEPA filter that is as good as any around in the mid-range niche. Some truly high-end machines have a HEPA filter that could be used on the space shuttle :). This one doesn’t reach that standard but neither does it need to in order to be effective. It, too, is washable, reducing annual maintenance costs.

Stage 3 houses a mesh that’s coated with silver, which has anti-microbial properties. It can only kill organisms that come in contact with it, so it’s not going to remove all potential disease-causing or allergy-stimulating creatures from your home. But it does help reduce their number considerably.

The washable advanced odor control (AOC) carbon filter in stage 4 goes beyond removing dust, dander, pollen, and other allergens. The carbon it contains removes a lot of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), one of the chief villains that cause chemically sensitive people to suffer.

Neither it nor the purifier as a whole are designed to completely remove all paint fumes and the like after an indoor home improvement project. No mid-range unit is going to do that. But it can effectively remove vapors produced from household cleaning products, along with other common chemicals in low concentrations.

Stage 5 contains the company’s proprietary ion generator, which they call PlasmaWave technology. That fancy name might stretch the definition a bit (ask a physicist) but it’s not a con job.

The unit generates positive and negative ions that enter the air and react with airborne water molecules. That creates negatively-charged OH molecules (hydroxyl radicals). Those hydroxyls then break down indoor pollutants and also kill some of the airborne bacteria, viruses, and more.

Unlike older technology, still in use in some home air purifiers, it produces no ozone (O3 molecules). While the health hazards of indoor, ion generator-produced ozone was sometimes overstated, this method is safer as well as more effective.

Performance and Stats

That excellent filtration system would be ineffective, however, without a good fan and efficient air flow. Fortunately, the design of the Winix 9500 offers all that in abundance.

The unit can push a fair amount of air, thanks to a robust 4-speed motor (Low, Medium, High, Turbo) and an efficient case design (in through the bottom and sides, out through the top).

Surprisingly, the CADR numbers are considerably lower than their less expensive model, the Winix 5500. They are:

• 194 Pollen
• 182 Dust
• 183 Smoke

about 50% lower than the 5500’s ratings. That’s a bit mysterious and there’s reason to wonder if the numbers (or the 5500 model’s) are misstated. However, CADR ratings require interpretation. Ideally, they’re listed for six full air changes per hour rather than the two or four of some manufacturers/models. There’s no way to know in this case.

It’s also odd that they state the 9500 covers up to a maximum of 284 square feet when the 5500 is listed as covering 350 sq feet. It may be that they’re more conservative here or that the extra filters reduce the amount of air it can clear.

Whatever the official numbers say, real-world experience shows that the 9500 does a fine job of clearing a room’s air. Light a cigarette a few feet from the unit, then let it burn for a minute. The 9500 will automatically increase the fan speed to Turbo and clear the smoke in a few minutes to an undetectable level.

Sensors, Indicators, and Controls

One reason the 9500 can do that is the superior set of sensors in this model. Going well beyond the quite-good 5500, this model houses dust and light sensors along with the odor sensor found in the lower-end version.

Those sensors measure particulate concentration in the air stream and adjust the fan speed accordingly. A hint of paint thinner or household cleaning spray in the air kicks the fan up into high. When the unit senses those compounds have dropped below a pre-set threshold, it downshifts into low again for quieter, lower-cost operation.

There is also an Auto-Sleep mode that will lower the fan speed when the room lights are dimmed. You can put it into that mode manually, too.

On the lowest setting, the unit consumes only about 6 watts so you’ll see practically no increase on the electric bill. Even on Turbo the 9500 sucks up only 70 watts so it draws less than the average lightbulb. The unit goes still further by providing a programmable timer to allow you to set it to run for only 1, 4, or 8 hours if you like.

Many of the settings can be set using the supplied remote control.

Conclusion

The Winix 9500 is pretty quiet (except on Turbo), handles a good-sized room, and barely sips electricity while offering fully automated operation. To this reviewer, that’s impressive.

True, it lacks some features of high-end home air purifiers. It doesn’t have a UV germicidal light or an electrostatic filter for example. But unless you are uber-sensitive and require a unit that zaps or removes every last compound, organism, and allergen, you will probably never notice the difference.

A bit pricey, but the Winix SignatureU450 is bound to be worth the cost for a lot of allergy sufferers. This air purifier delivers solid value for the dollar.

Basic Design

The Winix U450 is one of the PlasmaWave air purifiers that has justifiably earned the company a great reputation. All of them are high quality, high cleansing power, and attractive. This one is no exception.

The body is largish at 25.59″ high x 17.32″ wide x 10.24″ deep. You can still place this unit in a number of possible places around the house, a flexibility that’s helpful since house floor plans are so varied these days.

And, at just 19.40 lbs, you can move it from one to the other without a lot of strain if you don’t care for your first choice. You might want to do that, for instance, if you discover that you’re not getting good air movement when in one place. The intakes are on the side and the vent is on the top, so it does need some space all around to operate efficiently.

Airflow & CADR Specs

The airflow of the U450 is impressive:

• Quiet: 78
• Medium: 148
• High: 215
• Turbo: 300

(all figures CFM, cubic feet per minute).

The CADRs (Clean Air Delivery Rates) are equally good:

• 343 Pollen
• 298 Dust
• 291 Smoke

Winix might call this a high-end model but I would still place it in the midrange. And for a midrange model, those numbers are on the high side, especially the pollen rating. The reason isn’t hard to find. The filtration system on the Signature U450, like the other Winix models, is very, very good.

5-Stage Filtration System

Stage 1 consists of the company’s pre-filter. It’s designed to remove the largest particles – pet hair, dust, lint. All that isn’t terribly harmful in the air, but neither is it good in itself, and removing it helps the other filters function more effectively. Most air purifiers today have one. The Winix unit, however, also has an anti-bacterial coating that few others have and it’s washable.

Stage 2 is where the U450 starts to reveal how it is a step above much of the competition. It features a filter coated with silver atoms, a natural anti-microbial material. It helps remove dust mites, mold, fungi, and other nasty little creatures that deal our lungs a fit.

Stage 3 is a True HEPA filter, one which works far better than the legal minimum. It’s rated to get 99.99 % of particles down to 0.3 microns and real-world tests show that it actually achieves that. It gets rid of tiny dust particles, pollen, pet dander (a sore spot for lots of allergy sufferers), and even smoke.

Stage 4 houses the Winix Advanced Odor Control carbon filter. The word “odor” signals something a little less benign than mere unpleasant smells. Foul-smelling chemicals are frequently mild toxins, especially to the chemically sensitive among us. It neutralizes ammonia, for example, a special problem sometimes for those with pets in the house. It’s a nice added benefit that this filter is also washable.

Stage 5 contains the Winix proprietary PlasmaWave technology. I’ve written about this whiz bang feature in detail elsewhere. Suffice to say here, it generates both positive and negative ions that combine with water vapor in the air to form hydroxyls.

That may sound like nasty stuff but it’s actually the opposite. They float around room air in harmless concentration and attack viruses, bacteria, and a wide range of airborne chemical compounds. Then, a beneficial chemical reaction takes place to create water vapor and other harmless molecules.

Display & Controls

All that goodness in air purification is supported by a large array of equally good ergonomics.

An air quality sensor (A, F) inside monitors the quality of the air passing through the unit and automatically adjusts the fan speed (G, H) when Auto mode (B) is on. Or, you can set it manually if you prefer.

The LEDs that show various indicators will be dimmed for nighttime use. So, if you operate the U450 in your bedroom, and are sensitive to illumination, a light sensor (J) will dim the lights and sets the fan speed to QUIET when the room becomes dark. My wife in particular is very grateful for that feature.

Another example of superior design is the Filter Replacement indicator (C, D). Many air purifiers have something like this to show when to swap out a filter. This one is better because, unlike far too many models, it operates via actual usage not just on a “how long have you owned it” basis.

The electronic controls are all effortless to use. For example, some are sensitive to even the minute levels of ozone the PlasmaWave creates. You can turn it off merely by holding down the button for a few seconds. It’s not hard to detect when it’s off or on, either. A little animated “wave” graphic (E) shows up when it’s activated.

Noise & Electricity Usage

Like all Winix air purifiers to date, the U450 is a pretty quiet unit. Since it can operate on “auto”, it can downshift or upshift the fan as needed, based on pollutant concentration. On the lowest setting, it generates a mere 29 dB. That level is practically inaudible. When running at the Turbo level it puts out a modest 56 dB, noticeable but not annoying.

The juice consumed is equally almost-nothing to modest. At the lowest fan speed it consumes around 10 watts; even at the highest it’s only 110 watts. It rarely needs to operate on Turbo but if the power consumption is around that of a single, bright incandescent light bulb, I’m fine with that.

Summary

The company touts the Winix Signature U450 as a premium air purifier for large rooms. The 450 in the name, after all, corresponds to the rated coverage. But those numbers are always overstated for real-world use, though they remain useful for comparison shopping.

Depending on your room and needs, I put it about 3/4 of that number, which is pretty good. An 18′ x 18′ room with an 8′ ceiling is still pretty ample size. However, that puts it in the midrange in my book. With that modification, I’d say the CADRs are very good and the Winix purification technology is top notch.

That combination makes this air purifier one I can solidly recommend.

Alen air purifiers have a reputation for high filtration efficiency. That’s well demonstrated even in the relatively modest model, the Alen A375.

Basic Design & Specs

Curiously, the Alen A375 name seems not logical. The Alen A350 covers up to 750 square feet and products usually increase the spec as the product number increases. Yet, the A375 only covers up to 650 square feet. That’s backwards from the usual situation.

That said, there’s nothing funky about the spec here. Many air purifier models state a coverage figure and you have to hope it lives up to it. Alen has a well-earned reputation for understating their ratings. The A375 will definitely cover that area, provided you don’t have cathedral ceilings – and sometimes even then.

The case size is exactly the same as the A350. Here, that means a chassis measuring 17.5″ high x 18.5″ wide x 8.2″ deep. And, at 19 lbs, it weighs about the same. The A350 is 16 lbs.

5-Stage Filtration System

Here, too, the Alen A375 shows its family resemblance to its cousin. The filter system is a large tri-layered unit that can be replaced easily.

It incorporates first a pre-filter that, like most, has two primary purposes. One is to do as the name suggests: filter. Human and pet hair, large dust balls or particles, and the like get trapped here. The second important function is to ease the job done by the other layers, letting them function at peak ability.

The pre-filter is both washable and can be vacuumed. However, since the filter is a 3-in-1 style system, washing it could be a bit tricky. Getting the HEPA wet would definitely undercut its function, if not ruin it entirely. Luckily, vacuuming is generally good enough for this stage.

Just behind it (from the perspective of airflow direction) is the HEPA filter. It’s neither extraordinary nor flawed. Some filters of this type are the equivalent of hospital operating room units. Not even tiny viruses get through. This one does almost the standard duty – removing 98% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

I say “almost” intentionally… One reason you so often see that last figure listed with a HEPA filter is that it’s one of the official criteria. The DOE (US Department of Energy) standard requires removal of at least 99.97% of the particles that flow through to be a True HEPA. This one clearly doesn’t qualify on that score.

Still, experience shows that it does a good job of radically reducing home air pollutants. One reason is that – in one option (see below) – it’s silver coated, and therefore has some anti-bacterial ability.

By design, a HEPA doesn’t stop chemical odors and the like. Luckily, behind the HEPA-like filter is an Activated Carbon filter. It does get out the overwhelming majority of VOCs (household cleaning product vapors, for example). It also filters pet dander (the little protein molecules, part of the skin cells pets shed, responsible for allergies). And, it does an excellent job of removing cigarette smoke, pet urine odor, and other offensive chemical compounds.

The A375 does have a feature that puts it above the A350 in one respect: UV light. Inside the filter system there’s an additional component that shines ultraviolet light onto the passing airstream. That zaps a wide array of viruses, bacteria, and other nasty things before ejecting the air out the exhaust. If you’re sensitive, that can make a big difference.

Finally an Ionizer pumps out negative ions charging particles in the air making them larger and heavier. The larger size makes them easier to trap. Due to the larger weight they tend to float more readily to the floor or carpet, where they can be vacuumed up or sucked in by the air purifier. They also attach more readily to positively charged surfaces where they stick, harmlessly waiting to be wiped off.

Filter Options

As with the A350, though, this 3-in-1 filter style has a downside. It certainly could not be easier to change. You pop off the front panel, pull out the large rectangle, then pop in a new one. But it means you have to replace them all at the same time. Depending on the nature of your home environment, that may be forcing you to change, say, the Activated Carbon filter long before the HEPA is worn out. Or vice versa.

The implication of that is that you might have to spend more money for operating costs per year than necessary. It’s a tradeoff between simplicity and annual running expense, and only you can decide whether it’s worth it. At roughly 60-90 per filter (the same for the A350), it’s a coin toss in my mind.

There are actually several filter options from which to choose. The base level – the HEPA-Fresh Filter (BF25A), as Alen calls it –. It’s the plain vanilla of the bunch, but even in this elementary style it does a fine job.

The next step up is the HEPA-Silver Filter (BF25A-Silver). It has the ion coating that kills bacteria, described above. It’s also great at removing mold, cigarette odors, and similar allergens.

The most expensive version is the HEPA-Odor Cell Filter (BF25A-MP). It’s designed for getting every last spec of odor out of your home generated by cleaning products, smoke, and more. It does a superb job of that but, if replaced according to the company’s (quite reasonable) schedule of once every six months, the annual operating cost becomes pretty substantial.

Sensors, Controls, and Display

One reason the A375 can be as effective as it is, despite the relatively elementary filter system, is the sensor system. It monitors the air stream and detects pollutant levels. When that rises, the unit automatically increases the fan speed until the offending material is reduced below detectable level. If you want a practical demonstration, just light a cigarette in front of the air purifier. You’ll hear the higher speed kick in.

There’s a filter-change indicator light that works in conjunction with that system to alert you to the need. The display also provides easy-to-read indicators for fan speed, timer, and amount of dust and smell.

All the buttons provide positive feedback so there’s no need to wonder if they’ve been pressed, even if you’re having difficulty reading the panel. Hey, I don’t always have my glasses handy, either!

The controls follow a similar theme, being ultra-easy to use. The on/off switch is right up front near the top. Just above that is the fan speed control, timer and ionizer (de)activate button and indicator. Also, since the A375 has a UV light, there’s an additional UV Light (de)activate button and an indicator to show whether it’s on or off.

Summary

Alen A375 is currently selling for the same price as the A350 which covers a larger area. However, this model has with the UV light an extra filtration stage which will be a big value to some buyers and also comes with a remote. Either way you go, you’ll be getting a fine air purifier.

For an air purifier with such a mousey name, the Rabbit MinusA2 SPA-700a cleans air with a lion’s strength. Featuring superb CADR numbers, a customizable six-stage filter, and ease of operation on top of it all, it’s a real carnivore to dirty air.

Performance and Stats, Fearsome

CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. It’s an objective measure of how well an air purifier removes pollutants and potential allergens from your environment.

There are often different figures given for different types of problems. The SPA-700a has some impressive stats in all the areas. That is 193 for smoke, 201 for pollen and 200 for dust.

But those numbers can be fudged if they’re given for, say, a very small room. The SPA-700a’s numbers are for a 700 square foot room (with standard ceiling height of eight feet, two air changes per hour). That’s over 26ft by 26ft, very good.

Given the 47-187 CFM (cubic feet per minute) air volume processing stat, that isn’t too surprising. Air is drawn in a full 360 degrees around the front panel and expelled upward at the back of the unit. That ensures the device isn’t simply filtering the air swirling around itself but working on your room air at maximum efficiency.

But there’s more than a powerful fan at work here.

6-stage Customizable Filtration System, Elimination in Depth

The Rabbit Air MinusA2 has a customizable six-stage filtration system that is among the best available at any price.

In stage one the washable silvered pre-filter removes large particles, pet hair, dust, and even mold from the air. The silver also helps kill bacteria.

Next in stage two, there’s a medium filter to remove bacteria, pollen, smaller dust particles, and smaller mold spores.

That’s followed in stage three by Rabbit’s proprietary BioGS HEPA filter that eliminates fungus, more bacteria, dust mites, pollen, and other allergens. It even gets rid of certain household odors. Smaller dust particles don’t survive the journey and tobacco smoke, sulphur dioxide, and animal dander are eliminated.

Then in stage four there’s an additional custom filter that kills common household germs, along with still more mold, pet dander as well as many viruses.

It even tackles some pet odors, along with a range of potential toxins. Gasses from outgassing plastics get absorbed. Tobacco smoke is eliminated. Even VOCs (volatile organic compounds) like Formaldehyde are quashed.

Even better, you get to choose the custom filter that is best for your personal circumstances and environment. You can select either a Germ Defense, Pet Allergy, Toxin Absorber, or Odor Remover. All of them do a little of each, but different ones are designed to focus on your main concern.

The Germ Defense filter, for example, is especially adept at trapping airborne bacteria, mold spores, and particles that carry viruses through the air. For those with low immune resistance – babies, the elderly, or just the genetically unlucky – the ginkgo biloba extract on the surface helps reduce the amount of any influenza virus that might be present.

Next in line in stage five is the Activated Charcoal filter, which goes on to remove any remaining tobacco smoke in the air stream. It goes to work trapping additional household odors, including cooking odors. Make fish in the evening and by bedtime, the smell is gone. Clean your kitchen floor with ammonia-based cleaner in the morning and you won’t smell it by lunchtime.

In the final air-cleansing stage six a safe Ion Generator creates charged particles that are pushed out into the exhaust air. Those tend to attract all sorts of nasty particles in the air, which then fall to the floor or float to wall surfaces.

Behind those filters is that powerful direct current motor, a brushless design to ensure quiet operation and long life.

Maintenance

The pre-filter is a permanent filter and does not need to be replaced. Clean it once every month by running the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner along the filter or by washing it gently with lukewarm water.

When the filter replacement indicator lights up it’s time to replace the other filters in the MinusA2. Depending on use and the air quality in your indoor environment, the life span of the filters will vary from 1 to 2 years.

Replacement filters can be bought in a handy all-in-one filter replacement kit – about 75 currently. Only make sure you know your custom filter! There’s a kit available for each of the 4 custom filters. The filters are interchangeable, too, so you can order more than one (or all) and swap them out from time to time. It’s ultra easy to do.

Cleaning the particle sensor with a damp cotton swab from time to time is no effort. A simple wipe with a clean cloth of the mood light lens, the air intake and outlet can be done when a visual inspection shows the need, which is not often, only about every 3-6 months. You won’t need more than 15 minutes or so to do everything.

Operation – Quiet, Easy, Low Cost, and Informative

The SPA-700a sips electricity. It consumes 47 watts at high speed, and only 7 watts at silent speed. Even at full blast, that’s less than a 60-watt light bulb. At average utility rates, that represents less than a couple of dollars per month to run the air purifier.

There are five separate speeds and the unit automatically selects the lowest speed needed, based on what it senses. You can set the speed manually, if you prefer, though. The noise levels are very modest for a unit that is so effective. Depending on the fan speed, it ranges from 20.8-45.6 dB. At the low end, you’d have a hard time hearing it operate from across the room. Even at the high end, you can comfortably listen to the TV with the MinusA2 going full tilt.

For all that power, it doesn’t way a ton: 19.4 lbs. That’s light enough to move around the house wherever you want, but hefty enough to prevent it tipping over at the lightest touch. That’s always handy for those who have cats who never tire of finding new things to rub against.

The stylish case with mood light is not huge, but not small either: 20″ high x 21.4″ wide x 7″ deep. It’s a bit on the wide side, but that shallow depth means you can place it near a wall, out of the way and not fear brushing against it or having to move around it. There’s even an optional wall-mount kit, if that’s your preference.

You can see at all times what the unit is doing, thanks to a number of indicator lights on the front panel. The lights are opposite the easy-to-understand buttons. The unit is easy to operate from across the room, too, thanks to the included remote control.

Summary

The Rabbit MinusA2 SPA-700a home air purifier is one of the most efficient and effective models on the market today. That’s chiefly thanks to excellent design and quality manufacture of its filtration system. But its operating characteristics are also highly impressive. It won’t roar when you use it, but you might want to give a joyful shout.

To these old ears the name Winix FresHome P450 sounds more like a classic airplane than a contemporary air purifier. They do have one thing in common, though. They both achieve their purpose with superb technology.

Basic Specs

The Winix P450 is one of the latest models from this relatively new air purifier manufacturer. Here, Winix shows they’ve learned a lot very quickly.

Those lessons learned start with a slick, stylish case that makes for good furniture along with good function. The housing measures 18.9″ wide x 25.6″ high x 11.8″ deep, making this rectangular model possibly a bit large for those who are space constrained.

For everyone else, it’s perfect. It weighs 18.7 lbs, making it among the lighter high-power, moderate-to-large-space covering models around. The only potential problem with the design here is the location of the air intake; it’s on the side of the unit. That can work great if you put it in a place that has adequate room.

If you have to place it too near a wall, though, it can hinder the ease of air flow. Making the motor work too hard to draw in dirty air will necessarily reduce the efficiency of the purifier. On the upside, the front vent pushes fresh air directly into the room.

Power, CADR, Coverage Area and Noise Levels

Inside that case it packs both a lot of air-pushing power and air-cleansing ability. Four different fan speeds drive air at CFM (Cubic Feet per minute) rates of:

• Quiet: 50
• Medium: 110
• High: 175
• Turbo: 290

The results are CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rates) that are quite good, among the highest around at this price point.

• 343 Pollen
• 298 Dust
• 291 Smoke

Those numbers are on the high side of what the company has offered on models in the past, making this among the most powerful models it has offered to date.

Those levels will take care of the rated room area – up to 450 square feet – with room to spare, so to speak. For the math challenged, that’s a room a little over 21 feet on a side. So, even those with substantial living rooms can enjoy clean air all day and night. One qualification, though. Those CADR and coverage numbers invariably assume a standard ceiling height – 8 feet.

Fortunately, for all that air volume and cleansing ability, you don’t have to suffer with an unacceptable noise level from the P450. The volume is noticeable when running at Turbo (60 db), but just a whisper when on Low (27 db). Since the highest speed is really only necessary to clear out high concentrations, usually for only a short time, the sound intensity is unlikely to bother most buyers.

3-Stage Filter and Cleaning System

The Winix P450 can achieve that air quality because like the company’s other models it houses their superb filtration system. Even with only a 3-Stage system, while other models/manufacturers boast four or even sometimes seven, it works well due to a unique design.

Stage 1 isn’t anything dazzling. It consists of a carbon pre-filter that is much like the next guy’s. It works well by trapping the large particles that enter the unit, including cigarette smoke, cooking odors, and more. But that’s not the truly impressive part.

Similarly, Stage 2 is very good but not wow-inducing. It features a True HEPA filter that gets out 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron in size. That’s pretty standard these days and, in fact, those numbers are the bare minimum required to qualify legally for the “True HEPA” designation. The filter gets out small particles and even some larger bacteria, along with pet dander, mold spores, and more.

But Stage 3 is where a Winix air purifier comes into its own. This section features the company’s proprietary PlasmaWave technology. Far more than a buzzword, it merits a longer discussion.

A plate inside the unit generates positive and negative ions that are then expelled from the case. They combine with airborne water molecules to produce hydroxyl radicals (negatively-charged OH molecules).

Those hydroxyls are harmless to you (in the low concentration produced here) but effectively break down many common airborne lung, nose, and eye irritants. They also kill a variety of harmful microorganisms. That’s especially helpful to cleanse any air that doesn’t enter the unit and get filtered before it enters you.

That explanation may be interesting to you or it might put you to sleep, but one thing anyone who uses the P450 can agree on is this: PlasmaWave technology works – really, really well. It zaps disease-causing microorganisms, causes particles to become heavy enough to drop to the ground (and out of the airstream), and keeps the air fresher feeling overall.

The net result of all three stages is to produce air that is both physically healthier and also more pleasant.

Automation and Remote Control

A set of sensors inside monitor the quality of the air passing through the unit in order to automatically adjust the fan speed. Or, you can set it manually if you prefer. One automation feature is likely to be truly welcomed by those sensitive to noise; when you dim the room lights the fan automatically goes into quiet mode.

Also, the P450 comes with a small handheld unit that lets you adjust the settings from across the room. Since there’s so much automation built into regular use – the sensors, auto-adjusting fan speeds, and more – it’s not likely to be used much by most buyers. But for those who have difficulty getting around it can really be a godsend.

Summary

It would be difficult to choose one single air purifier that is the best model of any available, taking all factors (including price) into account. But given its quality, feature set, and mid-range price, the

Most home air purifiers have pros and cons. The Austin Air HealthMate is unusual in that both those are on the extreme side of things. The pluses are really outstanding and the minuses are a little worse than usual. Let’s dig in to the details to see why…

Construction – Very Good But Not Great For Everyone

The Austin Air HealthMate is a big rectangular box, making it look somewhat clunky. But the problem is more than just its plain appearance. That’s admittedly a subjective consideration and not very important anyway.

The true difficulty is it makes placement a little challenging. Corners are the natural spot, limiting your options. Increasing that challenge, it’s a fairly large unit: 14.5″ x 14.5″ by 23″. It weighs a whopping 45 lbs with the filter installed. Mitigating that problem slightly, the HealthMate has caster wheels, so it’s not really difficult to move the unit from one place to another.

More seriously, with only a 3-speed control switch there are no other controls or indicators. Even forgetting that people just like to adjust things and to know what’s going on, the drawback is more than just a failure to satisfy the itch for something high-tech to play with. The ability to tailor your air purifier to personal circumstances is important. Seeing how it operates in those various modes is, too.

Still, the HealthMate is well made – surprisingly well made for a unit not at the top of the line – and that is important. It’s not the cheapest air purifier by any means; it’s only near the bottom of the premium scale, not the total scale. Those truly cheap units are correspondingly cheaply made, and don’t deliver what allergy sufferers and others need: pure air. The HealthMate does, in spades.

4-Stage Filter System

By contrast with those cheap units (and giving some due credit to Austin Air), the Healthmate does a superb job of clearing a room and keeping it clear. Smoke, animal dander, pollen, and dust simply won’t be around in great concentrations after a few hours of operation.

Better still, the HealthMate has a unique filter design that does an excellent job of clearing gases and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Paint fumes, household cleaning products, and more can irritate lungs, eyes, and nasal passages even among those who aren’t particularly sensitive. The HealthMate reduces them to concentrations below normal concern, and does it fast.

Summing up:

• Stage 1: Large particle pre-filter (removes dust and hair)
• Stage 2: Small particle pre-filter (removes molds, pollen)
• Stage 3: Activated Carbon/Zeolite (removes chemicals, VOCs, ammonia, odors)
• Stage 4: Medical Grade HEPA filter (removes bacteria and many viruses)

Unfortunately, the unit sports no filter replacement indicator. You replace it when you observe the amount of air flow has been reduced. That observation is, naturally, not one you can carry out with great accuracy without special instruments. The lack is simply a weakness in the design.

Maintenance + Costs

One small downside is that the HealthMate features a combined HEPA/Carbon/Zeolite unit. Meaning: it’s replaced as a unit. That’s similar to the color ink cartridges that required you to replace the whole thing, even though you were only out of yellow.

Still, the expected lifetime of these filters and their relatively modest cost makes that a small issue. Austin has a good reputation for straight talk and that’s borne out here.

Keep in mind, though, that the figure assumes a fairly standard home environment. Daily heavy smoke, abnormal concentration of paint fumes, excessive humidity leading to unusually high mold concentrations, and high dust levels will naturally pull that number down a bit. Still, even if one lasted only three years the replacement cost and effort is not bad.

Using the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner works great to remove dust buildup on the 360-degree intake system while a soft dampened cloth can be used to clean the other surfaces.

What will this unit add to your electric bill? Keep in mind that electric rates vary so much, as does the amount of daily usage due to variations in fan speeds. So I’m only able to give you a rough idea… The specs show that this unit operates on 135 watts on the highest fan speed setting.

Let’s imagine the worst case scenario… If the HealthMate runs continuously at the highest setting for an entire month (31 days) your consumption would be 100.44 kWh. At average electric utility rates (let’s take 12 cents/kWh) you’ll add about 12 a month to your electric bill – once again that is if the unit would run continuously on the highest fan speed.

Performance

Of course, what counts most is how a home air purifier performs. The Austin Air HealthMate will not disappoint anyone on that score.

Vented all along the bottom, the HealthMate draws air from 360 degrees. The exhaust is on the top, so it won’t blow any uncleared dust into the air.

It draws a LOT of air, too. The HealthMate is rated to run in rooms as large as 1,500 square feet. That rating is probably a little exaggerated, but not by an outrageous amount, judging by many reviews and real-world tests.

Regrettably, while it’s sucking that air, it’s not very quiet. The ratings are:

• 50 dB(A)@48 cfm on low,
• 55 dB(A)@180 cfm, and a truly noisy…
• 66 dB(A)@400 cfm on high.

[Note: cfm stands for Cubic Feet per Minute.]

As you can see by those cfm figures, though, the HealthMate moves a lot of air, as we said. For this reason, the relatively modest CADR estimate of 220 is a bit misleading.

Does it include a Warranty?

The Austin Air HealthMate comes with a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee taking away all the risk. If you’re not completely satisfied with the HealthMate, you may return it for a full refund – that is within 30 days of purchase. After that the unit is backed by a 5-year warranty on materials and workmanship. The filter cartridge comes with a 5-year pro-rated guarantee.

Conclusion

The Austin HealthMate is a first rate machine at a very non-first rank price. Those who want a super quiet unit will want to consider carefully, however. Overall, this is a great unit for allergy sufferers or anyone who just wants clean air without the need for regular home air purifier maintenance.

The Honeywell 50250 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier does a fine job at a modest price. It’s far from a top of the line model, and it has its pros and cons, but it also sells at far from the top of the line price.

Construction – 360 Degree Airflow

The Honeywell 50250 is a bit of an odd duck in the home air purifier market, due to its round case. That has advantages and disadvantages.

It makes it a little tough to find a good spot to place the unit. Corners are the natural home, limiting your options. At 19 inches high and 18 inches in diameter, it’s a fairly hefty unit. Its 21 lb weight lends support to that view.

On the upside, it provides a 360 degree air flow.

Appearance is subjective, but it lacks the high-tech look of most contemporary units. The controls and indicators are somewhat limited, making it look even plainer.

An indicator light on newer models is also bright blue, so you probably don’t want to put this in the bedroom unless you like the glow.

Performance – Very Respectable CADR/ Ratio

The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 does a good job where it counts, for sure; it cleans a lot of air very well. The HEPA filter is one reason, of course. It captures at minimum 99.97% of particles above 0.3 microns in size.

The numbers show you how much of that gunk you can expect to clear how quickly. The model number in this Honeywell line specifies the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate, a measure of how many cubic feet per minute of clean air are introduced to the room). So the CADR number is 250 for smoke, 250 for dust and 250 for pollen.

Those are very respectable ratings, particularly when you calculate the CADR/ ratio, which is decidedly – and happily – on the high end of things, i.e. you get a lot of clearance for the money. And it’s especially nice that it does that for all three major home pollutants. Many other models have a good number for one and a weaker number for another.

The Honeywell 50250 also purifies out of the air mold spores, dust mites, cat dander, and other allergy-inciting nasties. Unlike high-end units, it’s not really geared to clear gases and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that well, so plan accordingly.

Run this air purifier overnight in the den and you’ll see that even the normal dust you’d find on your TV screen simply isn’t there. That layer of dust you find on your coffee table – if, like me, you’re too busy to wipe it properly every day – is absent. Nice.

Noise Level – Noisy!

The drawback comes when you look at (or test) the noise levels. For a 3-speed fan it gives a surprisingly poor showing here, even at the slowest speed. You probably won’t want to stay in the room when it’s running at the highest speed, since it produces 57db. The middle setting produces 45db. Even the lowest speed generates 35db.

That’s noisy for a high-quality home air cleaner, even one in the modest price range. Working on a computer with the unit running full blast requires good concentration.

In conjunction with the noise, there is a bit of unusual vibration. Unusual, at least, for a truly well-made home air purifier. Some lemons in otherwise good models will have a slightly off-center fan. That produces vibrations similar to car tires that need balancing.

That’s not the problem here. The Honeywell 50250 can build up air in front of the HEPA filter. That causes the case to wobble a bit. That will be especially problematic on a hardwood floor or a table top if you place your purifier there. Not a happy situation.

50250-N = 50250 with Lifetime HEPA Filter

The 50250-N is an unofficial model number that is used for referring to the new version of the Honeywell 50250 which features a lifetime HEPA filter.

Note that the new model number is actually not labeled on the packaging. So apparently if you want to know what model you have, you need to look for “permanent HEPA filter” on the packaging while the original 50250 will make no reference to this.

Also the older unit has red/black packaging while the newer model is mostly white/light in color.

Maintenance and Operation Costs

The Intelli-Check electronic filter monitor sports a red light to alert you when the HEPA filter is dirty or the pre-filter needs to be replaced and that’s a nice feature to have.

Luckily, it’s not like the “Check Engine” light on your car, which is meaningless. It’s sensor – not ‘mileage’ – driven. Keen. Even better, the indicators give you a warning, showing a sequence of lights as the filter gets closer to needing replacement. When the light stays on permanently, it’s time for a change.

The carbon pre-filter can be vacuumed multiple times before needing to be replaced.

The HEPA filter can be cleaned many times as well, especially if you purchase the 50250-N, which features a lifetime HEPA filter.

Beware that term “Lifetime” however! It’s as much a marketing term as a technical one. Long use and multiple cleanings will degrade the filtration ability of even these high-end True HEPA filters. Eventually, they do need to be replaced. How often will vary quite a bit depending on your room environment and how carefully you clean the filter.

The plain 50250 model uses a HEPA filter rated to be replaced every 1-3 years, which is still pretty good. You’ve 2 options here…

• The Honeywell HRF-14 Pure HEPA Permanent Replacement Filter fits all current and past large sized Honeywell rounds including the 50250. Note that you need 3 of these stacking filters.

• Another (slightly more expensive) option is to buy the one piece Honeywell 24000 Replacement HEPA Filter. It does fit the 50250 model, even though the online specs don’t say so.

Replacing that filter is supremely easy in any case, and doing so will show you how well made this unit is. Gently place the air cleaner on its side and unscrew the locking mechanism located under the base assembly to get access to the filter chamber. Inside, you can observe how well sealed things are. You can observe the absence of unwanted air bypass – which would show up as scattered dirt particles around the unit where they don’t belong – by noting the absence of dirt everywhere but the filter.

You won’t be terribly happy with the increase in your electric bill. The Honeywell 50250 consumes 50 watts on the lowest speed (high-end units less than 10), and the medium speed consumes 120 watts. The highest speed a whopping 170 watts.

Does it include a Warranty?

Yes, the Honeywell 50250 includes a 5 year warranty.

Conclusion

The Honeywell 50250 home air purifier does the job and does it well for what you pay for it. It lacks some of the nicer bells and whistles of higher-end units and is a bit noisy. If you’re looking for an air cleaner for a bedroom and hoping to sleep with the unit on this is probably not the right model for you. Still, if you’re less sensitive to background noise than others, be guided by your personal taste here.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus is one of the best, if not the very best, home air purifier on the market. That’s a bold claim, but one fully justified by the outstanding design, performance, and real-world user reviews of this remarkable machine.

Construction

The IQAir HealthPro Plus is a moderately large unit at 16″ wide x 15″ deep x 30″ high (with wheels attached) and weighs 35 lbs (with filters included). The caster wheels on the bottom make it no major effort to move from place to place, though.

The small downside is the rectangular case, which means corners are your best bet. However, that design helps it push a lot of air: up to 240 cubic feet per minute.

The HealthPro Plus is rated to cover a 900 square foot room (that’s about 30 feet x 30 feet) and it lives up to that rating in real-world tests. It does that in part by pulling air from around the bottom through an arched base and pushing it out the exhaust vent at the top.

Input and output vents are well separated to prevent the unit simply recycling too much of its own output. Dusty air goes in at the bottom and pure air is expelled out the top along all four sides.

The fan housed inside the case can push up to 700 cubic feet per minute. Filters reduce the actual output to the 240 cfm stated above. It’s also cleverly placed between the filter cartridges, making its operation quieter. The proprietary 3D UltraSeal system ensures no internal leakage.

But pushing all that air efficiently would be worse than useless unless it were well cleansed. That effort is performed – and performed superlatively – by the HealthPro’s unique filter system.

Unique Filter System – 4 Advanced Filtration Technologies

Stage 1. The pre-filter catches the largest particles – such as ordinary dust and some pollen carriers. The mini-pleat design offers a large surface area to carry out that task well and for a long time before needing replacement.

IQAir’s PreMax pre-filters remove 90% of particle mass, compared to the 20% of many others. This first stage also helps lengthen the life and increase the efficiency of the next stages.

Stage 2 + 3. One of the most important steps is then done by IQAir’s patented V5 filtration unit. This wide-spectrum gas and odor filter unit soaks up odors and many common household gases – paint fumes, ammonia, and more.

This filter unit combines two types of media – tiny carbon pellets and an aluminum substrate that is infused with potassium permanganate, a disinfectant. That means it not only scrubs odors but kills microorganisms, too.

In fact, this filter is so efficient that some buyers mistakenly believe the unit performs poorly. Behind that paradox lies an interesting tale.

When a filter like this one picks up odors, it eventually becomes saturated. Then, those odors get pushed back into the air by the force of the machine’s ample air-pushing ability. If stored for a long time in an environment where those fumes are present, the filter can become half-filled before you buy.

That leads in some cases to buyers believing the unit produces a foul smell. It doesn’t. It’s simply been so efficient before being turned on that the filter needs replacement. Regrettably, unlike some units, the HealthPro’s filters are not wrapped in plastic before being packaged inside the housing. The solution, if the problem occurs at all, is simple. Get a spare carbon filter and have one on hand.

The bottom line is that the V5 filter not only works, it works so supremely well that the odors are in the unit, not your room, long before you know you have a problem.

Stage 4. The HEPA filter installed is, in one sense, “standard equipment” these days. But that standard is so high today that people naturally take it for granted. The HealthPro’s version goes beyond the norm, though.

This HyperHEPA filter, as the Swiss company calls it, is tested and certified to filter particles down to 0.003 microns. That’s 10 times smaller than a small virus. This particular HEPA filter has been through European Norm EN 1822 testing and passed with flying colors. And, believe me, Europeans are very attuned to air quality and health issues.

Those filters’ actions combine to ensure your room gets cleared of dust and dust mites, pollen, animal dander, mold spores, and a whole range of other allergy-inducing compounds. You also won’t suffer the ill effects of common household gases nor the irritation of cat litter smells, cooking odors, and more.

Filter Replacement

Another fine feature of the IQAir HealthPro Plus is that each of these filters is entirely separate, though they work together inside the purifier. You replace them one at a time, as needed. Other units, while good in many respects, have integrated filters that force you to buy the whole thing when only one aspect is saturated.

Also great, you have to replace them very seldom even in the most frequent case. The average lifetime/replacement ratings are:

• PreMax Filter: 6-18 months
• V5-Cell Filter: 1-2 years
• HyperHEPA Filter: 2-4 years

Filter Life LEDs indicate the state of the individual filters in the system and thanks to a built-in Filter Life Monitor you know at any given time how much time is left before you need to do a filter replacement. So, you need never keep track of when you bought the unit or last replaced a filter.

IQAir HealthPro vs IQAir HealthPro Plus

IQAir also sells a standard HealthPro unit. The biggest difference between the 2 models is that the HealthPro features the same advanced filter technologies as the HealthPro Plus, however without the V5-Cell filter unit.

Thanks to a spare compartment the HealthPro model can be upgraded to include this filter stage. After upgrading, the HealthPro will filter gaseous pollutants and odors, in addition to allergens, dust and other airborne particles just as its HealthPro Plus cousin.

What’s In the Box?

• Air Purifier
• HyperHEPA filter module
• V5-Cell filter module
• PreMax filter module
• Set of casters
• Remote control + batteries
• User Manual
• Quick Start Guide
• Certificate of Performance

Does it include a Warranty?

The IQAir HealthPro Plus is backed by a 5-year warranty against defects in parts and labor. Filters are consumables and exempt from this warranty.

What Are Others Saying?

You can rest assured that all the good comments (including mine) about the IQAir HealthPro Plus are not hype. Each unit is tested by the manufacturer and certified as it comes off the assembly line.

The HealthPro Plus has received numerous awards showing that those manufacturing efforts have been successful. The HealthPro has won:

• Allergy Buyer’s Club: Category Winner
• Wired Magazine Test: Best Air Purifier
• Reviewboard Magazine: Product of the Year
• Consumer Digest – Best Buy

Conclusion

The IQAir HealthPro Plus has a well-deserved reputation as “the king of the home air purifiers”. Far from being an exaggeration, this model has proven itself in real-world applications. It carries a hefty price tag, but if you want one of the best air cleaners on the market, you can’t go wrong with this model. You definitely get what you pay for: clean air and plenty of it.