Sometimes even a mid-range air purifier, like the Austin Air HealthMate, can offer high-end features.
Weighing in at a rather chunky 45 pounds and a 23-inch-tall by 14.5-inch-square rectangular box shape, it might not look like much. And its boxy design limits where you can put the HealthMate. Corners work best. But this model is still relatively easy to move, thanks to a set of four sturdy wheels.
However, no matter where you place it, you’ll be pleased with the performance. One of the reasons is its unique filter system. The Austin Air HealthMate removes the usual suspects (dust, dander, pollen), but it will also remove many VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odors. If your indoor air contains paint fumes, fumes from household cleaning products, kitty litter odors, and more, they’ll be gone after a few hours of use at the most.
That efficient air-cleaning operation is the result of an excellent tri-filter system that combines activated carbon with zeolite and also adds a HEPA filter. Some models offer very small amounts of carbon in the filter. Here, that carbon is plentiful, over 15 pounds. As a result, the Austin Air Healthmate will adsorb over 3,000 different VOCs and odors. Giving things a big helping hand, its true medical grade HEPA filter houses over 60 square feet of material.
There is one small drawback: you have to replace the combined HEPA/charcoal/zeolite filter as a single unit. That might seem like replacing the entire cartridge in your inkjet printer when only one color is dry. But the expected life of these filters and their modest cost make that less of an issue. With a 5-year rating, reviews from real users show that it’s not an exaggeration.
The Austin Air HealthMate Air Purifier draws air from 360 degrees around the case with intake vents at the bottom and an exhaust at the top, so you’re not just recycling your own output. Just as well, this unit draws in a LOT of air. The HealthMate is rated to clear rooms up to 1,500 square feet (that’s more than 38 feet x 38 feet) in about 15 minutes. Once again, real-world shoppers confirm that Austin Air isn’t overreacting.
If the Healthmate has any serious flaw, it’s noise. During operation on low it produces 50 dB, on medium – 55 dB. On high, it generates a substantial 66 dB. That’s more than many, but still not loud enough to prevent hearing the TV if the unit is placed far away.
Another drawback is the limited number of indicators that let you know what’s going on. Most air purifiers display fan speed, ionizer activity, a filter replacement light, or other helpful cues. The HealthMate features just a simple dial for fan speed with no lights, graphics, or visual aids. Still, when it comes to the only metric that counts, your feeling of breathing clean air, it really delivers.