Air Purifiers: Reviews

The IQAir HealthPro air purifier is expensive, but according to reviews it's the best option for people with severe allergies. This brand was chosen by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority as the only room air cleaner… powerful enough to be used during the SARS outbreak. Reviewers say the IQAir HealthPro, which uses a HyperHEPA filter, can clean up to a 1,000-square-foot room. The IQAir also has a filter-change alert and a five-year warranty. Be aware, however, that unless you have a severe allergy or air quality issues, the IQ Air may be overkill.

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The little-known Alen A350 air cleaner is meant for smaller rooms than the IQAir (400 to 800 square feet versus 1,000), but in tests, it removes nearly as many allergens from the air. It's also a little quieter. Like the… IQAir air purifier, the Alen uses a true HEPA filter unit, which combines a pre-filter, a HEPA filter and a carbon filter for odors. While reviews say the IQAir is the best you can buy, the Alen A350 air purifier comes close for a lot less. Annual replacement filter costs are about $80. The Alen A350 also comes with a lifetime warranty. Another option in this size range is the Blueair 601 (*est. $650), said to be especially quiet, but it costs significantly more.

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The Honeywell air purifier is only effective in small areas of less than 375 square feet. Though it's cheaper than other air cleaners, reviews say it's also noisier. Like the best air purifiers on the market, the… Honeywell uses a HEPA filter, but on this model, it is a permanent filter that you can vacuum twice a year. Reviewers say you will need to replace this filter eventually, however. There is also an odor-reducing carbon pre-filter that does have to be replaced quarterly. The Honeywell takes in air from all sides of its cylindrical design, expelling cleaned air out the top, but it doesn't pull as much air through its filters as more expensive models.

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Before you invest in a portable air purifier, you might first try an inexpensive filter for forced-air furnaces and air conditioners. Reviews say the 3M Filtrete is very good at removing the most common allergens, like… dust and pet dander. They don't do as well with smoke and aren't effective with odors, and they can reduce airflow through your system. Still, a $17 filter, replaced four times a year, may improve your indoor air quality enough that you don't need a more expensive portable air cleaner at all.

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