Best Reviewed
Air Purifiers
- Best air purifier overall IQAir HealthPro Plus *Est. $900
- Best-value air purifier Austin Air HealthMate *Est. $490
- Air cleaner for small rooms Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N *Est. $195
- Furnace filter 3M Filtrete 2200 Elite Allergen Reduction Filter *Est. $23
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- Good for small spaces
- Low price
- Effective on allergens, odors and chemicals
- Does not emit ozone
- Long-life filter with warranty
- Hasn't undergone extensive testing
- Noisy on high speed
Unlike the top-rated Austin Air HealthMate (*Est. $490), the smaller Austin Air HealthMate Jr. hasn't been tested as thoroughly. Most who have reviewed the HealthMate Jr. like it as well as its larger sibling; the HealthMate Jr. is sized for smaller rooms: Air-Purifier-Power.com and AllergyBuyersClub.com recommend using this machine in 100- to 225-square-foot rooms. The HealthMate Jr. has a HEPA filter and a 6.5-pound core of activated carbon and zeolite, giving it the potential to eradicate odors as well as allergens, and its most expensive filter shouldn't have to be replaced for three or four years.
The Austin Air HealthMate Jr. is evaluated (if not thoroughly tested) by Air-Purifier-Power.com, AllergyBuyersClub.com and ConsumerGuide.com. It also receives a handful of user reviews at Amazon.com.
Our Sources
Although he doesn't test the Austin Air HealthMate Jr., reviewer Ed Sherbenou offers a detailed, critical description. He praises the machine's 6.5 pounds of activated carbon and applauds its "pure value" for the price. He notes, though, that the HealthMate Jr. probably works best in small (100 square feet or so) rooms.
Review: Austin Air Cleaner HealthMate Jr. Review, Ed Sherbenou
Like Air-Purifier-Power.com, AllergyBuyersClub.com recommends the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. for small rooms -- 225 square feet or so. The editors note that Austin Air cleaners are economical, reliable and require little attention. However, editors did not test the HealthMate Jr. scientifically.
Review: Austin Air HealthMate Air Purifiers for General Air Cleaning, Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
It's clear that ConsumerGuide.com didn't thoroughly test the Austin HealthMate Jr. HM-200, as evidenced by the remark that "it can clear rooms up to 700 square feet, an impressive accomplishment for a diminutive air purifier." As other sources point out, the HealthMate Jr. works best in small rooms, ranging from about 100 to 200 square feet. The only downside noted here is the lack of casters on this 18-pound machine.
Review: Expert Review: Austin Air HealthMate HM-200 Jr. Air Purifier, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, May 1, 2007
4. Amazon.com
About two dozen owners post reviews of the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. here, and most are positive. Of the few negative reviews, one user complains that the unit is loud, one says it's antiquated because it doesn't include an ultraviolet light to kill germs in the air and another says the air smells bad coming out of the unit.
Review: Austin Air Jr. HealthMate Air Purifier HM200, Contributors to Amazon.com
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