Austin Air Purifiers
Austin Air makes mid-high range air purifiers with several stages of filtration. They are known for quality products with some units able to filter odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These units are a good choice for those who are looking for high quality filtration at the lowest cost possible.
Austin Air Models
| Austin Air Allergy Machine | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $348.22 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 1500 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 75-400 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, Medical Grade HEPA Filter & HEGA Filter with Activated Military Carbon ClothFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 23″H x 14.5″W x 14.5″DWeight: 45 lbsNoise Level: 50-66 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air Allergy Machine Jr. | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $354.13 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 700 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 50-200 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, Medical Grade HEPA Filter & HEGA Filter with Activated Military Carbon ClothFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 16.5″H x 11″W x 11″DWeight: 12 lbsNoise Level: 50-66 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air Baby’s Breath | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $328.78 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 700 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 50-200 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, Medical Grade HEPA Filter & HEGA Filter with Activated Military Carbon ClothFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 16.5″H x 11″W x 11″DWeight: 12 lbsNoise Level: 49-65 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air Bedroom Machine | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $694.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 1500 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 250 CFMFilter Type ? : Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, HEGA Carbon Cloth & Proprietary Carbon BlendFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 23″H x 14.5″W x 14.5″DWeight: 45 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air HealthMate+ | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $525.39 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 1500 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 250 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter & Carbon, Zeolite and Potassium Iodide Gas PhaseFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 23″H x 14.5″W x 14.5″DWeight: 45 lbsNoise Level: 50-66 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air HealthMate+ Jr. | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $378.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 700 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 125 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter & Carbon, Zeolite and Potassium Iodide Gas PhaseFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 16.5″H x 11″W x 11″DWeight: 18 lbsNoise Level: 49-65 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air HealthMate | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $488.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 1500 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 250 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter & Carbon, Zeolite Gas PhaseFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 23″H x 14.5″W x 14.5″DWeight: 45 lbsNoise Level: 50-66 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air HealthMate Jr. | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $282.32 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 700 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 125 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter & Carbon, Zeolite Gas PhaseFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 16.5″H x 11″W x 11″DWeight: 18 lbsNoise Level: 49-65 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Austin Air Pet Machine | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $530.61 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – NA / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 1500 Sq. FtCirculation ? : 250 CFMFilter Type ? : Polyester Pre-Filter, Medical Grade HEPA Filter & Specialty Carbons/Zeolite BlendFilter Life Est. ? : 60 MonthsSize: 23″H x 14.5″W x 14.5″DWeight: 45 lbsNoise Level: 50-66 dbEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Air Purifier Noise Chart – Decibel Ratings of Common Sounds | |
|---|---|
| Source | Decibel Rating (dB) |
| Falling leaves | 0-10 |
| Whisper | 10-20 |
| Soft music | 20-30 |
| Mosquito buzz | 40-50 |
| Normal voices | 50-70 |
| Traffic sounds | 70-80 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 80-90 |
| Thunder | 90-100 |
| Chain saw | 110-120 |
| Rock concert | 120-130 |
| Pain threshold (jet take off) | 130-140 |
| Perforation of ear drum (gun shot) | 160 and higher |
Austin Air Company Info
Austin Air Systems, Limited is a Buffalo, New York-based company. Official corporate information does not state how long the company has been in business, but it is known to be a major player in the air purification field. It also has the distinction of operating the largest air purifier factory on the planet.
Television Appearance and Use After September 11
Austin Air purifiers were seen on a 2009 episode of The Today Show, in a segment on indoor air pollution. During an interview, greennest.com founders Ron and Lisa Beres praised Austin Air’s purifiers. Earlier in the decade, the company was chosen by FEMA and the Red Cross to fulfill what Austin Air calls the “largest deployment of air cleaners in American history” in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
Third Party Testing
Austin Air claims its products are subjected to rigorous third-party testing by both Batelle Laboratories, a long-established a well-respected lab, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Austin Air Purification Technology
The purifiers made by Austin Air make use of a multi-stage filters. This includes two pre-filters for larger particles. After that, they employ a True Medical Grade HEPA filter, which, according to the company, has an effectiveness against particulate pollution of “99.97% efficiency down to 0.3 microns and 95% efficiency down to 0.1 microns.”
To reduce Volatile Organic Compounds, some of Austin Air’s products also use Activated Carbon blended with Zeolite, or some other Activated Carbon mix. Others, designed specifically for those with allergies or asthma, utilize a process the company has termed “High Efficiency Gas Absorption,” or HEGA, with an Activated Military Carbon Cloth. The company doesn’t offer much information on how this works, however.
Austin Air purifiers are made with solid steel and paint that is designed not to release toxins. They also do not emit any ozone. The company’s website at http://www.austinair.com also emphasizes the fact that its products are entirely made in the United States.
Pricing and Warranty Info For Austin Air Models
Prices range from the mid-$300s to the mid-$500s, with the exception of the Bedroom Machine, which can run to nearly $700. All Austin Air products use long-lasting filters, however, which should save the buyer some money in the long run. Austin Air offers five-year warranties on its purifiers. In addition, the filters also come with a pro-rated five-year warranty. This is a fairly rare feature in the industry.
Speaking of the filters, note that because the filtration system combines carbon and HEPA into one unit, in some situations one of these will wear out before the other, but both must still be replaced. Thus the filter on Austin Air cleaners is very good in some respects, but is also a double-edged sword.
Austin Air Air Purifier Models
(The coverage areas given here are based on Austin Air’s recommendations, which are considered unrealistically high by some reviewers.)
- HealthMate: HEPA filters, Activated Carbon/Zeolite. Coverage area of 1500 square feet.
- HealthMate Junior: HEPA filter, Activated Carbon/Zeolite. Coverage area of 700 square feet.
- Allergy Machine: HEPA filter, Activated Military Carbon Cloth (HEGA). Coverage area of 1500 square feet.
- Allergy Machine Junior: HEPA filter, Activated Military Carbon Cloth (HEGA). Coverage area of 700 square feet.
- HealthMate+: HEPA filter, Activated Carbon/Zeolite. Coverage area of 1500 square feet.
- Healthmate+ Junior: HEPA filter, Activated Carbon/Zeolite. Coverage area of 700 square feet.
- Bedroom Machine: HEPA, Proprietary Carbon Blend, Carbon Cloth (HEGA). Coverage area of 1500 square feet.
- Baby’s Breath: HEPA, Activated Military Carbon Cloth. Coverage area of 700 square feet.
- Pet Machine: HEPA, Activated Carbon/Zeolite. Coverage area of 1500 square feet.
