Excellent video. After watching different videos and extended research we decided on 2- Austin Air Healthmate HM-450.. upon delivery one unit went upstairs and the other downstairs both set on high. Within the first hour couldn’t believe the difference in air quality. My nasal passages are always plugged, not anymore. We sleep much better also. Within the first few days of owning the units we had a lady come to the house for business and she commented on the air quality and after telling her about Austin Air we had just purchased she insisted on getting one and I ordered her one right at the kitchen table haha. Yes they are expensive but our health is worth it especially when we hear the air within our homes can be up to 7 times more toxic than outside air, worth every penny. Thanks Austin Air
I agree, I am not a big fan of the Jr. units and I have one. I also have 2 Austin Air Healthmates that have run 247 on high speed for over 15 years and they are good units. They will probably filter particulates better than less expensive solutions for smaller spaces - especially after a few weeks and the filters accumulate some dust. So, I wouldn't say lesser expensive units filter particles as well.
@Consumer Analysis I feel like your videos are very informative and I appreciate the fact you're directly interacting with your viewers in comment section with helpful tips. Which one would you recommend Austin Air Bedroom Machine or Honeywell HPA300 for a standard bedroom? Infact which one is better in terms of quality and performance?
The Austin Air is easily a much better air purifier as it has a much better gas filter and is much better made with much higher quality parts and materials.
Hey consumer analysis! Great video, I posted this on another video but I am eager to get your reply as my return warranty for my unit is about to run out. I wanted to ask that I have purchased the Austin air unit to rid my bedroom of harmful gases and VOC’s. However I am wondering I also want to rid the dust and allergens in the same bedroom with the Winix you recommend. But does my current Austin air healthmate already have as good particle filtration for dust as the Winix and there is no need to buy 2 different units to compensate? Is the Austin air the same level of particle dust filtration as the Winix as well as more gas filtration? Or does Winix perform much better in dust filtration and is cheaper as the main difference? Thanks!
Great analysis as always! We have an open concept kitchen open to a separate living room and a separate dining room. I'm looking for a unit and the most important consideration is to help reduce smell from cooking. What would be your recommendation? I'm thinking either the Austin or two Winix 5500. The two units will turn over more air, but the Austin has more media
For a large room CFM is of paramount importance and so I would recommend multiple Winix units over a single Austin Air unit for your application. See more of my thoughts here: th-cam.com/video/9NgbHtzoFJo/w-d-xo.html
Yes, the allergy unit will help but I'd probably go with an Aeris 3 in 1 (which is currently about the same price - or the IQAir HealthPro Plus if you want the best solution for allergies, IMO. 👍
I have a small parrot and would like to find a high quality air filter for keeping the air clean and for allergies. My mother had a bird and passed away from a disease from having the bird. I guess from breathing in particles of the bird the immune system attacks the lung and eventually destroys it and in about 3 years of getting this she passed away. I worry about getting this but wanted to get something to clean the air since I have a bird as well. Any recommendations for the best air filter ? I was thinking one of the Austin airs. I have an iqair in the bed room but want something where the bird is located. Thanks
We have 2 Austin Healthmate Jr. air purifiers that we lurched 5 years ago when we lived in a much smaller apartment then what we are living in now. So if we use these 2 junior ones in the main open area of our current apartment, like the living/dining and kitchen open area, would that not be the same as 1 full sized Austin Air? We also have a Winix 5500-2 for in the bedroom. The apartment that we are living in now is a little over 2,000 sq feet, so would we still need one more air purifier?
Yes, two Junior units are essentially equivalent to one full size unit. For such a large space (2,000 sq. ft.) I would highly encourage you to invest in a high quality particle meter like the Dylos DC1100, for example. Using the meter you can monitor particle levels in all of the rooms of your home and move air purifiers around, adjust their fan speeds, buy an additional unit if necessary, etc. according to the specific needs of your particular home.
I have an issue with drifting secondhand smoke from a neighbor in my 60 sq ft apartment. In my country, the prices for these units are absolutely insane - $1200 for the healthmate junior and $1850 for the standard healthmate. Do you think the Junior would be enough to handle the smoke issue in a 60 sq ft space?
I"ve had a couple of Austin Air Healthmate units returned for 2nd hand smoke issues so I never recommend them for this application. If price is an Issue - I'd probably go with a Coway 300 but if price is not an issue I'd go with an IQAir Healthpro Plus for the best filtration, IMO.
Only get the Junior version if you absolutely cannot afford the Standard series version. First, the Junior version is a much worse value - the Standard series gives you 100% more performance - output and filtration - for only 50% more cost. Also keep in mind that you'll be limited using the Junior version in rooms up to about 150 sq. ft. (because it has half the output of the Standard series version). If you ever want to use the unit in a larger room it won't be effective. You'll also have to keep the Junior version on max. fan speed in even a small room while you could use the Standard series version on a lower fan speed (operating more quietly) at the same level of performance in the same environment.
@@consumer-analysis the descriptionm says up to 700 sq feet for the junior plus for regular 8 feet ceiling, so where do you get your 150 sq? the standard is supposed to be 1500 sq feet. My room is like 160sq and I always run it on low and can tell the difference when I turn on as I usually keep it off when sleeping, also wouldn't the larger model be way louder than the smaller, the junior even on the lowest is louder than other purifiers out there, is very noticeable and i haven't tried to sleep with it yet, but I would probably wake up from the noise. As much as I would like to have the bigger one cause bigger is always better the price to get it sucks. The junior plus is $385 black color on Amazon from a retailer that actually ships directly from Austin, for me to get the austin air plus, which you want as it has that potassium iodide for formaldehyde, it would be $300 more, not sure if worth it, if they advertise a 700sq feet for the junior then it should suffice for a small room, makes no sense to overspend unless is the living room or a very large room, that saved money could be used towards a vacuum with a hepa filter and sealed system, as you will need this so you don't be spreading dust and particles all over the air when you vacuum or worst broom
The Bedroom Machine is essentially the same air purifier as the HealthMate but adds a "Military Grade HEGA Carbon Cloth". I don't think this addition is worth it for any added cost. Between the HealthMate and Bedroom Machine I would go with the cheaper option.
@@consumer-analysis Thank you. Do you know what the HEGA cloth actually does vs the 15 pounds of activated carbon in both units? Just trying to understand the value. Also any insight as to their partnership with National Sleep Foundation (did they do their own testing)? Thank you.
@@pranavpopat The HEGA cloth provides more surface area for additional gas adsorption. Though I believe the 15 lb. of activated carbon in the main filter to be more than sufficient for most applications. I don't know anything about their partnership with the National Sleep Foundation.
I saw your message that AUSTIN is better than winix for smoke. I have a 17 by 19 ft living room with 10ft ceilings. What austin model should I get. how much is the filter replacement? thank you for your help. thank you for your great informative vidoes.
I recommend either the HealthMate or HealthMate Plus. The filters are quite expensive because they contain much more filtration media (e.g. 15 lb. of activated carbon and zeolite) than the average filter and therefore they don't need to be replaced as often. All things considered, yearly filter replacement cost for these Austin units is very similar to that of budget units.
@@consumer-analysis what about the AirMedic lineup? I’m torn between those two. On the one hand Austin has added zeolite, but on the other hand the size of the AirMedic carbon filters are jaw droppingly impressive.
For particles, the two units offer very similar performance (both have a HEPA filter and similar output). For odors/VOCs the Pet Machine is equipped with a much more substantial gas filter. It's also much more expensive so you will need to weigh its cost vs that added benefit of better gas filtration.
The Plus model adds potassium iodide to the carbon and zeolite mixture in the gas filter. This allows for filtration of additional gaseous chemicals. That is really the only difference.
Another thing not taken into account in this comparison are the cost of the filters and pre filters. The filter for the standard unit plus is like $350, that's the cost of a purifier basically, the junior filter plus is $250. Now, Austin says "up to 5 years" but that is the maximum, chances are it won't last that long, it may not last even 3 years. Ideally, you would want to replace every 2 years to have a filter that is good health. If 5 years is the end of the life of a filter, then 2.5 year is the half life, but it doesn't work like that in real life. I don't buy the 5-year filter claim at all, how did they come up with this number? sounds too good to be true and is marketing, chances are it lasts half of that. You have to add up the filters to the cost, paying $350 every 2 to 3 years is a lot. You're basically buying a new purifier every 2 years. Same for their 700 sq feet claim, now they say they not longer rate them like that, probably cause they don't really cover 700sq feet and probably just 150-200ft like you said and the standard model is probably 300-400sq. Considering how expensive these units are, they work great, but they got you with the filters.
In the past they have offered pro-rated filter prices. For example, they would offer 40% off filter replacement if the filter needed replacement after 2 years. I'm not sure if they still do that today.
@@consumer-analysis theorically you could abuse that system lol claim your filter smells funny and they'd send you a new one, probably why they don't do it anymore or maybe they do
i have the healthmate jr plus and use it to filter pipe tobacco smoke. it has been running 24/7 for over three years and it still reads close to zero on my dylos dc1700. i had a hepa filter similar to the winix and i had to replace the filters about twice a year (when the readings on the dylos rose above normal). the filters for the hepa were about $70, changed two to three times a year, giving me an annual filter cost of $140-$210. even if the healthmate jr plus needs changing after only three years the annual cost would be about $80. if it lasts five years the annual filter replacement cost is $50.
@@consumer-analysis I just put in my 3rd HealthMate 400 filter and Austin Air Systems still offers pro-rated filter replacement. The specifics are spelled out in the instruction/warranty sheet that accompanies the filter. I have had a full size standard HealthMate for the past 10 years to help with my asthma and hay fever. I use it in a 20’ by 20’ bedroom and I have been able to get 5 years of use out of each filter. I run it mostly at night and a few hours during the day. Someone with particularly dirty air would probably need to replace their filter more often.
This is a response to the reply posted by Orlando Ch. First, the filter for a standard size HealthMate 400 has been around $250 for at least 10 years. That price includes shipping and the large particle pre-filter. Second, I have had my HealthMate 400 for 10 years and just installed my 3rd filter. In other words, I have received the full 5 year use from the original filter and the first replacement filter. I hope to receive the same 5 years from the third filter I just put in. I run it at night and for a few hours during the day. I run it in a 20’x20’ room and it has made a noticeable chance in my asthma and allergies. If I ran it 24 hours a day and had dirtier air, then I would probably get less then the full 5 years. I would then take advantage of the Austin Air System pro-rated warranty.
Junior models are still very expensive. If you're trying to save costs I would recommend a different brand. If you're serious about air purification and you're will to spend on a Junior model, I just think the full size model is a much better value.
Consumer Analysis the black color is $385 on amazon, if you have gift cards on amazon , could get it much cheaper and with the easy amazon returns option included. I got mine for $266 after using gift cards I had. Haven’t received it yet but hopefully it doesn’t have that weird plastic smell all the other cheaper purifiers have. There are some open box amazon returns that some sellers sell on ebay at cheaper price because they have dents. I saw a few junior plus for $200 or $170 even, but I didn’t want to risk and just bought new from amazon. The bigger healthmate plus is like $700 on amazon. Hopefully I don’t encounter any weird smells otherwise my adventure in the world of air purifiers will end there
Excellent video. After watching different videos and extended research we decided on 2- Austin Air Healthmate HM-450.. upon delivery one unit went upstairs and the other downstairs both set on high. Within the first hour couldn’t believe the difference in air quality. My nasal passages are always plugged, not anymore. We sleep much better also. Within the first few days of owning the units we had a lady come to the house for business and she commented on the air quality and after telling her about Austin Air we had just purchased she insisted on getting one and I ordered her one right at the kitchen table haha. Yes they are expensive but our health is worth it especially when we hear the air within our homes can be up to 7 times more toxic than outside air, worth every penny. Thanks Austin Air
I agree, I am not a big fan of the Jr. units and I have one. I also have 2 Austin Air Healthmates that have run 247 on high speed for over 15 years and they are good units. They will probably filter particulates better than less expensive solutions for smaller spaces - especially after a few weeks and the filters accumulate some dust. So, I wouldn't say lesser expensive units filter particles as well.
@Consumer Analysis I feel like your videos are very informative and I appreciate the fact you're directly interacting with your viewers in comment section with helpful tips. Which one would you recommend Austin Air Bedroom Machine or Honeywell HPA300 for a standard bedroom? Infact which one is better in terms of quality and performance?
The Austin Air is easily a much better air purifier as it has a much better gas filter and is much better made with much higher quality parts and materials.
Hey consumer analysis! Great video, I posted this on another video but I am eager to get your reply as my return warranty for my unit is about to run out. I wanted to ask that I have purchased the Austin air unit to rid my bedroom of harmful gases and VOC’s. However I am wondering I also want to rid the dust and allergens in the same bedroom with the Winix you recommend. But does my current Austin air healthmate already have as good particle filtration for dust as the Winix and there is no need to buy 2 different units to compensate? Is the Austin air the same level of particle dust filtration as the Winix as well as more gas filtration? Or does Winix perform much better in dust filtration and is cheaper as the main difference? Thanks!
Great analysis as always! We have an open concept kitchen open to a separate living room and a separate dining room. I'm looking for a unit and the most important consideration is to help reduce smell from cooking. What would be your recommendation? I'm thinking either the Austin or two Winix 5500. The two units will turn over more air, but the Austin has more media
For a large room CFM is of paramount importance and so I would recommend multiple Winix units over a single Austin Air unit for your application. See more of my thoughts here: th-cam.com/video/9NgbHtzoFJo/w-d-xo.html
Our oldest has terrible pollen allergies in the Spring time…. About the 2nd week of April until middle of May. Will this Allergy unit help him?
Yes, the allergy unit will help but I'd probably go with an Aeris 3 in 1 (which is currently about the same price - or the IQAir HealthPro Plus if you want the best solution for allergies, IMO. 👍
Is it worth getting the health plus or just get the standard health? And what website do you recommend getting it from?
potasium iodide gets released in the air some people dont like it its supposed to reduce mucous production
What would you recommend for a home gym in Northern California? Would an Austin or winix be a better option to help remove gym smells?
The Austin has more gas filtration media and so will filter odors better but I think the Winix will be sufficient for your application.
I have a small parrot and would like to find a high quality air filter for keeping the air clean and for allergies. My mother had a bird and passed away from a disease from having the bird. I guess from breathing in particles of the bird the immune system attacks the lung and eventually destroys it and in about 3 years of getting this she passed away. I worry about getting this but wanted to get something to clean the air since I have a bird as well. Any recommendations for the best air filter ? I was thinking one of the Austin airs. I have an iqair in the bed room but want something where the bird is located. Thanks
We have 2 Austin Healthmate Jr. air purifiers that we lurched 5 years ago when we lived in a much smaller apartment then what we are living in now. So if we use these 2 junior ones in the main open area of our current apartment, like the living/dining and kitchen open area, would that not be the same as 1 full sized Austin Air? We also have a Winix 5500-2 for in the bedroom. The apartment that we are living in now is a little over 2,000 sq feet, so would we still need one more air purifier?
Yes, two Junior units are essentially equivalent to one full size unit. For such a large space (2,000 sq. ft.) I would highly encourage you to invest in a high quality particle meter like the Dylos DC1100, for example. Using the meter you can monitor particle levels in all of the rooms of your home and move air purifiers around, adjust their fan speeds, buy an additional unit if necessary, etc. according to the specific needs of your particular home.
I have an issue with drifting secondhand smoke from a neighbor in my 60 sq ft apartment. In my country, the prices for these units are absolutely insane - $1200 for the healthmate junior and $1850 for the standard healthmate. Do you think the Junior would be enough to handle the smoke issue in a 60 sq ft space?
I"ve had a couple of Austin Air Healthmate units returned for 2nd hand smoke issues so I never recommend them for this application. If price is an Issue - I'd probably go with a Coway 300 but if price is not an issue I'd go with an IQAir Healthpro Plus for the best filtration, IMO.
When would you recommend the jr. version? I currently have a smaller space.
Only get the Junior version if you absolutely cannot afford the Standard series version. First, the Junior version is a much worse value - the Standard series gives you 100% more performance - output and filtration - for only 50% more cost.
Also keep in mind that you'll be limited using the Junior version in rooms up to about 150 sq. ft. (because it has half the output of the Standard series version). If you ever want to use the unit in a larger room it won't be effective. You'll also have to keep the Junior version on max. fan speed in even a small room while you could use the Standard series version on a lower fan speed (operating more quietly) at the same level of performance in the same environment.
@@consumer-analysis the descriptionm says up to 700 sq feet for the junior plus for regular 8 feet ceiling, so where do you get your 150 sq? the standard is supposed to be 1500 sq feet. My room is like 160sq and I always run it on low and can tell the difference when I turn on as I usually keep it off when sleeping, also wouldn't the larger model be way louder than the smaller, the junior even on the lowest is louder than other purifiers out there, is very noticeable and i haven't tried to sleep with it yet, but I would probably wake up from the noise. As much as I would like to have the bigger one cause bigger is always better the price to get it sucks. The junior plus is $385 black color on Amazon from a retailer that actually ships directly from Austin, for me to get the austin air plus, which you want as it has that potassium iodide for formaldehyde, it would be $300 more, not sure if worth it, if they advertise a 700sq feet for the junior then it should suffice for a small room, makes no sense to overspend unless is the living room or a very large room, that saved money could be used towards a vacuum with a hepa filter and sealed system, as you will need this so you don't be spreading dust and particles all over the air when you vacuum or worst broom
I got the JR one for a home office / bedroom. It's plenty big enough for my room.
Do you have an opinion on the Bedroom machine vs the Healthmate?
The Bedroom Machine is essentially the same air purifier as the HealthMate but adds a "Military Grade HEGA Carbon Cloth". I don't think this addition is worth it for any added cost. Between the HealthMate and Bedroom Machine I would go with the cheaper option.
@@consumer-analysis Thank you. Do you know what the HEGA cloth actually does vs the 15 pounds of activated carbon in both units? Just trying to understand the value. Also any insight as to their partnership with National Sleep Foundation (did they do their own testing)?
Thank you.
@@pranavpopat The HEGA cloth provides more surface area for additional gas adsorption. Though I believe the 15 lb. of activated carbon in the main filter to be more than sufficient for most applications. I don't know anything about their partnership with the National Sleep Foundation.
What about the Reme Halo?
What about enviroklenz
I saw your message that AUSTIN is better than winix for smoke. I have a 17 by 19 ft living room with 10ft ceilings. What austin model should I get. how much is the filter replacement? thank you for your help. thank you for your great informative vidoes.
I recommend either the HealthMate or HealthMate Plus. The filters are quite expensive because they contain much more filtration media (e.g. 15 lb. of activated carbon and zeolite) than the average filter and therefore they don't need to be replaced as often. All things considered, yearly filter replacement cost for these Austin units is very similar to that of budget units.
Can you review the Mila Air Purifier?
Is the Austin lineup your preferred filter for gas filtration?
Yes, absolutely.
@@consumer-analysis what about the AirMedic lineup? I’m torn between those two. On the one hand Austin has added zeolite, but on the other hand the size of the AirMedic carbon filters are jaw droppingly impressive.
Would you recommend the pet machine? How does it compare to Winix 5500-2 for pet allergies?
For particles, the two units offer very similar performance (both have a HEPA filter and similar output). For odors/VOCs the Pet Machine is equipped with a much more substantial gas filter. It's also much more expensive so you will need to weigh its cost vs that added benefit of better gas filtration.
Can you better explain the difference between the Heathmate and Healthmate plus?
The Plus model adds potassium iodide to the carbon and zeolite mixture in the gas filter. This allows for filtration of additional gaseous chemicals. That is really the only difference.
@@consumer-analysis thanks, very appreciated
Will you make a video about Air Doctor?
Possibly, although the specifications for the Air Doctor air purifier compared to its price makes it highly unlikely I will recommend it.
When would you recommend the jr. Model??
See our reply to your earlier question.
Another thing not taken into account in this comparison are the cost of the filters and pre filters. The filter for the standard unit plus is like $350, that's the cost of a purifier basically, the junior filter plus is $250. Now, Austin says "up to 5 years" but that is the maximum, chances are it won't last that long, it may not last even 3 years. Ideally, you would want to replace every 2 years to have a filter that is good health. If 5 years is the end of the life of a filter, then 2.5 year is the half life, but it doesn't work like that in real life. I don't buy the 5-year filter claim at all, how did they come up with this number? sounds too good to be true and is marketing, chances are it lasts half of that. You have to add up the filters to the cost, paying $350 every 2 to 3 years is a lot. You're basically buying a new purifier every 2 years. Same for their 700 sq feet claim, now they say they not longer rate them like that, probably cause they don't really cover 700sq feet and probably just 150-200ft like you said and the standard model is probably 300-400sq. Considering how expensive these units are, they work great, but they got you with the filters.
In the past they have offered pro-rated filter prices. For example, they would offer 40% off filter replacement if the filter needed replacement after 2 years. I'm not sure if they still do that today.
@@consumer-analysis theorically you could abuse that system lol claim your filter smells funny and they'd send you a new one, probably why they don't do it anymore or maybe they do
i have the healthmate jr plus and use it to filter pipe tobacco smoke. it has been running 24/7 for over three years and it still reads close to zero on my dylos dc1700. i had a hepa filter similar to the winix and i had to replace the filters about twice a year (when the readings on the dylos rose above normal). the filters for the hepa were about $70, changed two to three times a year, giving me an annual filter cost of $140-$210. even if the healthmate jr plus needs changing after only three years the annual cost would be about $80. if it lasts five years the annual filter replacement cost is $50.
@@consumer-analysis I just put in my 3rd HealthMate 400 filter and Austin Air Systems still offers pro-rated filter replacement. The specifics are spelled out in the instruction/warranty sheet that accompanies the filter. I have had a full size standard HealthMate for the past 10 years to help with my asthma and hay fever. I use it in a 20’ by 20’ bedroom and I have been able to get 5 years of use out of each filter. I run it mostly at night and a few hours during the day. Someone with particularly dirty air would probably need to replace their filter more often.
This is a response to the reply posted by Orlando Ch. First, the filter for a standard size HealthMate 400 has been around $250 for at least 10 years. That price includes shipping and the large particle pre-filter. Second, I have had my HealthMate 400 for 10 years and just installed my 3rd filter. In other words, I have received the full 5 year use from the original filter and the first replacement filter. I hope to receive the same 5 years from the third filter I just put in. I run it at night and for a few hours during the day. I run it in a 20’x20’ room and it has made a noticeable chance in my asthma and allergies. If I ran it 24 hours a day and had dirtier air, then I would probably get less then the full 5 years. I would then take advantage of the Austin Air System pro-rated warranty.
jr plus will be more than enough for one room, nobody gon pay $750 for an air purifier
Junior models are still very expensive. If you're trying to save costs I would recommend a different brand. If you're serious about air purification and you're will to spend on a Junior model, I just think the full size model is a much better value.
Consumer Analysis the black color is $385 on amazon, if you have gift cards on amazon , could get it much cheaper and with the easy amazon returns option included. I got mine for $266 after using gift cards I had. Haven’t received it yet but hopefully it doesn’t have that weird plastic smell all the other cheaper purifiers have. There are some open box amazon returns that some sellers sell on ebay at cheaper price because they have dents. I saw a few junior plus for $200 or $170 even, but I didn’t want to risk and just bought new from amazon. The bigger healthmate plus is like $700 on amazon. Hopefully I don’t encounter any weird smells otherwise my adventure in the world of air purifiers will end there
I just dropped $2300 on 3 AA bedroom models. Money is not an issue when you have little ones to think about.
We spent maybe $16,000 on purifiers for our home. Wildfire smoke has the AQI here up to 400 and sometimes higher.