Blueair 503

Bottom line

The Blueair 503 is a solid performer capable of cleaning rooms of average size. This model costs a few hundred dollars less than the top-rated IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus (Est. $900) . While it can't capture particles quite as small as the IQAir can, owners say the Blueair 503 is effective, makes a noticeable difference in allergy symptoms and is relatively quiet.

Performance

Noticeable improvement in air quality. According to testers at one professional consumer organization, the Blueair 503 does an excellent job at removing dust, pollen and cigarette smoke at its highest setting, and a good job at the low setting. Seventy-five percent of owners posting reviews to Amazon.com give this unit a perfect 5-star rating. Several owners point out that they noticed a difference in allergy symptoms within hours of turning the unit on. The Blueair 503's filter is capable of removing 99.7 percent of particles down to 0.1 microns in size.

Ease of use

Easy to use, easy filter changes. The Blueair 503 is capable of filtering air from medium to large rooms, up to 580 square feet. Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com give the Blueair 503 a perfect 5-star rating for ease of operation and filter changing. The filters do require replacing every six months, although a filter-change indicator lets owners know when it's time for a replacement. It weighs about 35 pounds, but caster wheels make it easier to move from room to room. Editors at AllergyBuyersClub.com say, "We love Blueair's simple design and operation along with the steel construction and the simplicity of changing the filters," but they wish it included a prefilter to extend the filter life beyond six months.

Noise

Mixed reviews on noise. In one professional test, the Blueair 503 gets only a fair rating for noise level at the highest speed setting, but an excellent score for noise at the low setting. Most owners posting reviews to Amazon.com say the Blueair 503 is so quiet that it can be used in bedrooms at the lower speed settings without disturbing sleep. There are a few detractors who complain that it's too loud, however.

Cost of ownership

Filter changes every six months add up. The Blueair 503 is one of the more expensive room air purifiers available, although it costs less than the top-rated IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus (Est. $900) . Its filters (Est. $25 each) must be changed every six months, which contributes to the overall cost of ownership. Other air purifiers have filters that will last three to five years or longer. The Blueair 503 is backed by a five-year warranty in case of defects or malfunctions.