| In most cases, a HEPA air purifier will employ a 3 | | | | The HealthMate is part of the Austin air purifier |
| stage process: the air is pulled through a foam | | | | line and retails of about $400. Although great for |
| pre-filter, which eliminates larger particles, then | | | | removing dust and pollen, Consumer Reports |
| through a pleated HEPA filter designed to trap a | | | | found that they were not able to remove smoke |
| majority of the particles, and then through a | | | | particles. Also available for about $100 less is the |
| carbon filter to remove odors. HEPA air purifiers | | | | smaller Austin Air Jr. |
| also employ pre-filtering, which extends the usable | | | | These devices were tested using several |
| life of the main filter. Here are some of the | | | | pertinent criteria. The most important of these is |
| Consumer Reports Best Rated HEPA air purifiers. | | | | cost-effectiveness - how well does the unit |
| Priced from $650 to $800, the IQ Air Health Pro | | | | operate compared to the cost? Also taken into |
| is one of the more expensive HEPA air cleaners | | | | account was the annual cost of running the unit in |
| on the market. However, it's been ranked #1 in | | | | terms of energy use and how often the filters |
| the industry because it eliminates a wide variety | | | | needed to be replaced. Noise level was another |
| of impurities such as allergens, viruses, bacteria, | | | | area looked at in the tests. Was the unit |
| volatile organic compounds, ammonias and sulfuric | | | | particularly noisy during operation, or did it run |
| gas. For those seeking relief from allergies, | | | | smoothly and quietly? Ease of use was taken into |
| asthma and other types of breathing problems, | | | | account as well as the type of warranty offered. |
| this purifier is highly recommended. It's designed | | | | As with any purchase, care should be taken to |
| for rooms up to 1,000 square feet and there's a | | | | match your needs to the right machine. If you |
| filter alert that tells you when it needs to be | | | | have one specific concern, then it would not be |
| changed, which is in the range of every two to | | | | necessary to buy a more expensive machine that |
| four years. | | | | does things you don't need it to. With the |
| Next on the list of Consumer Reports Best Rated | | | | extensive variety of HEPA air purifiers available, it |
| HEPA air cleaners is the HealthMate HM400 model. | | | | should be easy to find one that suits your needs. |