Bionaire Air Purifiers
Bionaire is owned by the parent company of Holmes which also makes air purifiers. Bionaire models are inexpensive and some use HEPA-type filters rather than HEPA. HEPA-type filters capture particles down to 2 microns which probably won’t remove the smaller particles that normally cause the most health issues. If you are interested in Bionaire models, look for the units that use HEPA filters and are rated for the largest room size possible. Models that have been rated under the Clean Air Delivery Rate program received low scores.
Bionaire Models
| Bionaire BAP260-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $39.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 55 / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 85 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : HEPA FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 11″H x 9.4″W x 15″DWeight: 7 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP825WO-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $99.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 116 / 450Pollen – 110 / 450Dust – 110 / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 180 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : HEPA FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 29.6″H x 8.2″W x 11.2″DWeight: 15 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP1400-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $48.95 | 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 ? : 81 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : PERMAtech HEPA Type FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 18.4″H x 9.4″W x 13″DWeight: 11 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP1412-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $69.57 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 52 / 450Pollen – 50 / 450Dust – 50 / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 81 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : PERMAtech HEPA Type FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 17″H x 8.2″W x 11.5″DWeight: 8 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP1525RCW-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $196.82 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 110 / 450Pollen – 110 / 450Dust – 110 / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 170 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : Washable Pre-Filter & PERMAtech HEPA Type FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 29.6″H x 8.2″W x 11.2″DWeight: 14 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP1700-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $132.2 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 110 / 450Pollen – 110 / 450Dust – 110 / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 170 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : PERMAtech HEPA Type FilterFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: 29.6″H x 8.2″W x 11.2″DWeight: 16 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP9700-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $129.98 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 105 / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 165 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : PERMAtech HEPA Type FilterFilter Life Est. ? : LifetimeSize: 26.4″H x 10″W x 11.8″DWeight: 11.2 lbsNoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP9700S-U | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $189.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 125 / 450Pollen – NA / 450Dust – NA / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 190 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : HEPA FilterFilter Life Est. ? : 9-12 MonthsSize: NAWeight: NANoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : No |
| Bionaire BAP9900UV-CNU | Ratings | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Price – $219.99 | Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?Smoke – 101.3 / 450Pollen – 117 / 450Dust – 112.4 / 450Consumer Reports ?Score – NA / 100Dust/Pollen/Smoke (High Setting) – NA / 5Est. Yearly Cost – NA | Room Size ? : 157 Sq. FtCirculation ? : NAFilter Type ? : Photocatalyst (TiO2) Filter, HEPA Filter & Germicidal UV LightFilter Life Est. ? : NASize: NAWeight: NANoise Level: NAEnergy Star? ? : Yes |
| 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 |
Bionaire Company Info
The Bionaire brand is a subsidiary of the Jarden Corporation, a large company with many other brands of home appliances operating under its aegis, including familiar names such as Sunbeam, Crock-Pot, and Mr. Coffee. In addition, Jarden is the parent company of Holmes, which also makes air purifiers. In addition to its air purifiers, Bionaire also makes heaters, humidifiers, fans, and other such products. It has been in operation since 1977, when its first air purifier was released in Canada.
Bionaire Air Purification Technology
The air cleaners made by Bionaire all make use of two methods of reducing pollution, a HEPA-type filter and an ionizer. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are a recognized standard in air filtration. The fact that Bionaire’s filters are only “HEPA-type” instead of true HEPA should make customers aware of the difference. Bionaire claims that these filters achieve “up to 99% filtration capturing particles 2.0 microns or larger from air passing through the filter.” This sounds good at first glance, but be aware that many serious airborne pollutants are much smaller than 2.0 microns.
In comparison, true HEPA filters in home air purifiers are able to target particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. Therefore, Bionaire’s products will certainly take care of relatively large items such as dust, but smaller particles are not guaranteed to be filtered out at all.
The other method used by Bionaire products, ionizers, will give air molecules a negative electrical charge, which will attract particles which, like many common pollutants, have a positive charge; the end result is that the pollutants are entrapped and removed from the air. All ionizers in Bionaire air cleaners can be turned on and off as desired by the user.
Neither of the methods described above will deal with gasses or odors, as they are only designed to filter out particles.
Bionaire Model Pricing
Bionaire’s purifiers are relatively low in price. The cheapest has a list price of $40, and the most expensive is $160. On top of this, Bionaire claims that its PERMAtech air cleaners are “The first of their kind to offer HEPA-type filtration in a permanent filter that never has to be replaced,” provided that they receive ordinary care, which means that the filters are cleaned once every three months. This is something to bear in mind, as filter replacements often add significantly to the initial cost of most air purifiers over the course of the purifiers’ lifetimes. Note that not all Bionaire air purifiers have the PERMAtech label, however; the others require do replacement filters as usual.
Bionaire Air Purifier Models
- PERMAtech Mini Tower Air Cleaner: HEPA-type filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 80 square feet.
- PERMAtech Tower Air Cleaner: HEPA-type filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 170 square feet.
- PERMAtech Tower Air Cleaner with Remote Control: HEPA-type filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 170 square feet.
- PERMAtech Mini Tower Air Purifier for Small Rooms: HEPA-type filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 80 square feet.
- HEPA-type Dual Position Air Cleaner: HEPA-type filter (fortified with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda), ionizer. Coverage area of 85 square feet.
- HEPA-Type Tower Air Cleaner with Remote Control: HEPA-type filter (fortified with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda), ionizer. Coverage area of 180 square feet.
