Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 Review

What the reviewers like:
In tests, the Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 does an average job removing allergens from the air. One expert says this air purifier is very well secured and sealed, and has an unusually large HEPA filter.

What the reviewers don’t like:
The Honeywell has a relatively small coverage area -- a maximum of 375 feet, with better results in much smaller rooms -- and owners and experts agree that it’s noisy, particularly on high speed.

Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 review highlights

Owners and experts are generally fond of the Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 air purifier, with two major caveats. First, this low-priced air purifier isn’t meant for big rooms, and second, the consensus is that it’s very noisy (Ed Sherbenou of Air-Purifier-Power.com, who praises the Honeywell’s cleaning power, says he refuses to use it in his bedroom). The Honeywell takes in air from all sides of its cylindrical design, expelling clean air out the top, but it doesn't pull as much air through its HEPA filter as more expensive models such as the IQAir HealthPro (*est. $700), experts say. The consensus is that this model is fine for the price, but the Whirlpool AP51030 (*est. $300) is much better.

The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 pops up in two reliable sources: Consumer Reports, which includes this air cleaner in its 2005 roundup of 30 air purifiers (as well as its more recent Nov. 2007 roundup), and Air-Purifier-Power.com, an enthusiast site that goes into great depth about the pros and cons of various machines. The Enviracaire air purifier also receives a fair number of comments from owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions.

Also see full report: Air Purifiers

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
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Air Purifiers
Editors of Consumer Reports
Nov. 2007

The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 is one of the 36 air purifiers tested by Consumer Reports. By injecting allergens into a test room, then measuring particle removal on both high and low speeds, editors rate air purifiers for dust and smoke removal, ozone emission and noise level.

2. Air-Purifier-Power.com
Honeywell Air Purifier: 50250 Review
Ed Sherbenou

Air-purifier expert Ed Sherbenou owns a Honeywell 50250, and it shows in this thorough review, illustrated with pictures. He says the 50250 is well-secured and sealed and has a big HEPA filter ("I have seen 18-wheelers with smaller filters than this"), but it’s so loud that he doesn’t use it in his bedroom.

3. Epinions
Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 Air Purifier Review
Contributors to Epinions

The Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 receives high marks from most of the dozen or so users posting to Epinions; one says it’s especially good at removing ferret odor (if you happen to own ferrets). However, a few owners complain that it’s noisy.

4. Amazon.com
Honeywell 50250N 99.97% Pure HEPA Round Air Purifier Review
Contributors to Amazon.com

More than 50 owners post comments at Amazon.com about the Honeywell Enviracaire 50250. Most are very satisfied -- praising the air purifier’s effectiveness at ridding odors -- but again, there are complaints about noise.

Also see full report: Air Purifiers

Honeywell Enviracaire 50250 Review