Value Air Purifiers

Whirlpool AP51030K Whispure air purifier balances performance and price

If you don't have severe allergy symptoms, a more affordable air purifier may be adequate for your needs. Some users prefer to use an air purifier to rid their homes of secondhand cigarette smoke or pet dander. You can't get better value and performance than with the Whirlpool AP51030K Whispure air purifier (Est. $250) , which gets solid marks from professionals and owners for its performance. The Whirlpool Whispure is praised for its quiet operation -- hard to come by among air purifiers. It offers four fan speeds, which also help users control the noise level, in addition to a sleep mode and a turbo mode for maximum cleaning efficiency.

The Whirlpool Whispure is a compact unit, so it doesn't take up as much space as some of the more expensive air purifiers. It uses both a HEPA filter (Est. $75) and a carbon prefilter (Est. $25 for a four-pack), although it's only effective at removing light odors from the air. It also boasts easy-to-use electronic controls and a filter-life indicator.

The Hamilton Beach TrueAir Compact Air Purifier 04386 (Est. $60) is another affordable option that packs quite a punch for such a small appliance. It's not included in any professional tests, but hundreds of owners praise this small air purifier for its ability to remove dust particles and other allergens from the air. The Hamilton Beach 04386 can sit upright or be positioned on its side, so it allows for more efficient space utilization. Some prefer the sleek design and less industrial look of the Hamilton Beach over the Whirlpool.

The Hamilton Beach 04386 offers three speeds, including a Whisper Clean setting for ultra-quiet operation that is practically undetectable, according to reviews. The low sound even outshines the quiet performance of the Whirlpool Whispure. On the downside, the Hamilton Beach 04386 is only recommended for use in spaces up to 160 square feet, so it's not adequate for large living areas or bedrooms.

The Whirlpool Whispure, however, can cover areas up to about 500 square feet, and professional testers find that it significantly reduces the particle count in rooms. One reviewer at Amazon.com says "Love this air filtration. I can really tell the difference at night with my breathing. My nose is not stuffy when I wake up in the morning."

The Hamilton Beach 04386 doesn't use a prefilter, so there's only one primary filter (Est. $20) to replace. Both filters for the Whirlpool Whispure have an expected life span of about one year, so the Whispure costs about $100 per year to maintain with filter replacements. The Hamilton Beach has a lifetime filter, designed to be vacuumed periodically instead of replaced -- completely eliminating the ongoing filter-replacement costs associated with most air purifiers.

However, both experts and owners suggest that replacing the Hamilton Beach's filter is occasionally necessary to keep the machine running at optimal performance. Even if you choose to replace the Hamilton Beach filter annually, the cost of ownership is a fraction of that of the Whirlpool Whispure.