EmailBest Reviewed
Air Purifiers
- Best air purifier overall IQAir HealthPro *Est. $750
- Best value Alen A350 *Est. $400
- Air cleaner for very small rooms Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N *Est. $160
- Furnace filter 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen Filter *Est. $17
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- Very good at removing odors from large rooms
- Reduces particles quickly
- Heavy
- Noisy
- Not as effective as competing machines
February 2009. As with other air purifiers, there's a bit of disconnect between Consumer Reports' evaluation of the Austin Air HealthMate HM-400 and the results at other sources. Consumer Reports ranks this machine near the bottom of its December 2007 roundup for dust and smoke removal, but another source, Air-Purifiers-America.com, rates it fairly well in this regard, acknowledging that it didn't test for odor removal (which the HealthMate is especially proficient at, considering its 15-pound activated carbon core). Otherwise, reviewers agree that the HealthMate is a powerful machine, capable of cleaning a 1,500-square-foot room (though it does better with smaller areas) and removing thousands of different chemicals and odors from the air, even if it's not as efficient at removing allergens as the IQAir HealthPro (*est. $750) or Alen A350 (*est. $400).
The Austin Air HealthMate HM-400 scores five out of five for expert reviews. This air purifier is rated by Consumer Reports and Air-Purifiers-America.com (which both perform allergen-removal tests), and is evaluated by two air-purifier specialty sites, Air-Purifier-Power.com and AllergyBuyersClub.com, as well as by Reviewboard.com. Unfortunately, we were unable to find many reviews of this machine at user-review sites such as Epinions.com or Amazon.com.
Our Sources
Air-Purifiers-America.com tests air purifier models in a test room with a laser particle counter, which measures the air purifier's ability to remove particulate allergens from the air. The Austin Air HealthMate HM-400 removes about 84 percent of particles -- not bad, but not as good as top-ranked models by IQAir and Alen. However, the editors admit they didn't test for odor removal, one of the HealthMate's strong suits thanks to its 15-pound activated carbon core.
Review: Air Purifier Test Results, Editors of Air-Purifiers-America.com
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The Austin Air HealthMate HM-400 is one of 36 air purifiers tested in a somewhat dated roundup by Consumer Reports. It's measured for its ability to remove particles from the air when operating on both high and low speeds. A ratings chart is included.
Review: Air Purifiers, Editors of Consumer Reports, Updated Dec. 2007
AllergyBuyersClub.com calls the Austin Air HealthMate HM-400 a no frills air purifier that is reliable and economical. It is rated as "very good" by this site and features a permanent pre-filter and a true medical HEPA filter surrounded by a carbon mixture which absorbs odors, chemicals and gases. One downside is its 45-pound weight; it is equipped with casters for easier moving, however. This site's editors don't appear to have tested performance with a particle counter.
Review: Austin Air Healthmate Air Purifiers, Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
In this review, air-purifier expert Ed Sherbenou praises the Austin Air HealthMate HM-400, calling it the best HEPA air purifier under $500. Sherbenou particularly likes the Austin Air's 15 pounds of activated carbon with zeolite mix, which adsorbs "over 3,000 different chemicals and odors." Also, he says this machine's five-year cartridge life makes it relatively economical over the long run. He notes, though, that the Austin's activated-carbon and zeolite core makes it inappropriate for baths, saunas or indoor pools, as a moist environment shortens the life of the filter.
Review: Austin Air Purifier: Heart of Gold, Ed Sherbenou
While it's not always clear to what extent Reviewboard tests the products they feature, their review of the Austin Air HealthMate 400 specifies that the tester uses a laser particle counter to measure performance. The HealthMate 400 is found to be a powerful circulator that cleans the air quickly without producing ozone. This reviewer says the HealthMate performs practically as well as the IQ Air machines but costs much less.
Review: Austin Air HealthMate 400 Air Purifier Review, Ted Williams, Dec. 23, 2008
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IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifier - Air Cleaner with with Gas and Odor Filter - HyperHepa Technology
 from Amazon.com New: $895.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
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