Our Ultimate Verdict
We give the Austin Air HealthMate a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Effectiveness: 5/5
Construct High quality: 5/5
Choices: 4/5
Worth: 4.9/5
There’s nothing higher than snuggling together with your kitty after an extended day. Until, in fact, you occur to be allergic to that loveable feline.
For each cat proprietor on the market whose love of kitties is at odds with their immune system’s disdain for cat hair and dander, I provide the Austin Air HealthMate.
This medical-grade air air purifier was made for householders who’re critical (and I imply SERIOUS) about clear air. And for cat homeowners who occur to be allergic to cats, it might simply be the treatment you didn’t know you wanted.
With a particulate prefilter, true medical HEPA filter, and carbon and zeolite biofilter, this air purifier can deal with greater than cat hair. It’s additionally been confirmed to take away over 99% of all airborne particulates, together with viruses, micro organism, allergens, and VOCs.
I, fortunately, am not allergic to my cat, however I do have an extremely reactive respiratory system made worse by all of the colds my daughter brings dwelling and any impurities within the air. That’s why I needed to check out the HealthMate.
Maintain studying to learn the way this supercharged air air purifier helped me and to see my full Austin Air HealthMate evaluation.
About Austin Air
Austin Air received its begin a long time in the past when founder Richard Taylor got down to assist his spouse together with her persistent respiratory signs. Drawing on the truth that his spouse solely felt reduction when in her hospital room, Richard designed a house air air purifier with the identical medical-grade filters utilized in hospitals.
Austin Air was born after Richard noticed how a lot reduction this dwelling air air purifier provided his spouse. Now, over thirty years later, thousands and thousands have benefited from these purifiers and half a dozen medical research have proved their effectiveness.
The place Are Austin Air Purifiers Manufactured?
Austin Air boasts the biggest air air purifier manufacturing facility on the planet. Each one among their air purifiers is made in-house of their Buffalo, New York, facility. The corporate controls the manufacture of all components of the items, together with the filters and end paint.
Who Will Profit Most from Austin Air’s HealthMate?
Austin Air’s purifiers are the one clinically confirmed air purifiers accessible for dwelling use. Their highly effective filter is efficient in opposition to 99% of airborne contaminants beneath 0.1 microns and much more efficient in opposition to bigger particles like cat hair and dander.
All that is to say that this highly effective machine is ideal for anybody who’s dead-set on enhancing their air high quality. Whether or not you might have a cat you’re allergic to, need reduction from persistent respiratory infections, or simply need to vastly enhance the air high quality in your house, this unit is a superb alternative.
HealthMate Overview
Right here’s an outline of Austin Air’s hottest air air purifier, the HealthMate. We’ll take a look at what’s inside this unit, the completely different settings, the technical specs, upkeep prices, and your ordering choices.
The Filter
Every HealthMate unit comprises an enormous, cylindrical filter with three major layers.
The primary is a prefilter meant to seize any giant particles that make it by way of the metallic grate on the surface of the unit. This filter removes issues comparable to cat hair, dander, mud, and every other seen particles within the air.
The second layer is made up of a mixture of carbon and zeolite. These two organic supplies actively seize and take up gasses, odors, and chemical substances within the air.
The innermost layer consists of a real medical-grade HEPA filter. This highly effective filter captures 99.97% of particles over 0.3 microns and 99% of particles all the way down to 0.1 microns. It successfully removes micro organism, viruses, and different microscopic allergens and pathogens within the air.
Austin Air’s filters have been clinically examined with some wonderful outcomes. For instance, one trial accomplished by the Cincinnati Youngsters’s Hospital confirmed that utilizing a HealthMate air air purifier within the bedrooms of asthmatic youngsters in a single day decreased hospital visits by 20%.
Settings
To name the HealthMate “easy to function” could be an understatement. This air purifier has solely 4 settings: excessive, medium, low, and off.
The only dial on the entrance controls the velocity of the motor. There aren’t any auto settings, filter reminders, or different fancy settings you’re more likely to discover on different dwelling purifiers.
For these searching for a air purifier that is aware of loads of tips, this isn’t the unit for you. However in case you’re critical about cleansing your air, the downsides of the HealthMate’s simplicity are simply overshadowed by the air-cleaning energy it delivers.
Technical Specs
The HealthMate is a beast amongst dwelling air purifiers. It’s made totally of powdered coated metal and weighs a hefty 47 kilos. It’s about as sturdy an air air purifier as you’re more likely to discover.
At 14.5″ lengthy by 14.5″ huge and 23″ tall, it is a sizable unit. However none of that area goes to waste. The consumption vent extends over all 4 sides of the bottom and the filter inside is giant sufficient to completely clear each molecule of air that’s sucked inside.
The unit sits on 4 sturdy castors so it might simply be rolled round as wanted. The high-efficiency motor is extraordinarily highly effective, a truth that’s apparent the second you flip this beast on excessive.
Upkeep Prices
One factor you have to at all times think about earlier than buying an air air purifier is the upkeep prices related to it. This implies taking a tough take a look at each the price of operating the unit in addition to the price of changing the filter.
I examined my unit utilizing an electrical energy utilization meter. Listed here are my readings and price calculations (primarily based on the nationwide common value of electrical energy):
Low | Medium | Excessive | |
Watts | 54.63 | 68.33 | 85.60 |
Value to run 8 hours per day | $0.05 per day; $1.57 monthly; $19.14 per yr | $0.07 per day; $1.97 monthly; $23.94 per yr | $0.08 per day; $2.47 monthly; $30 per yr |
Value to run 24 hours per day | $0.16 per day; $4.72 monthly; $57.43 per yr | $0.20 per day; $5.90 monthly; $71.83 per yr | $0.25 per day; $7.40 monthly; $89.98 per yr |
The common air air purifier prices about $10 a month or $120 per yr to run 24/7. Contemplating this, the HealthMate is definitely very cost-effective to make use of. That is true even in case you crank it as much as excessive and depart it operating all day and evening.
One other place the place the HealthMate shines by way of worth is within the filter alternative division.
The huge cylindrical filter on this unit lasts 5 years. This sort of lifespan is exceptional within the air air purifier world. Most filters for dwelling use solely final 3 to 9 months.
When it’s time to interchange this filter, you’ll have to fork over some money. The HealthMate sequence filters value about $290 every.
Nevertheless, in case you break this down by value over time, you’d be paying lower than $15 each three months. Contemplating the typical value of a three-month air air purifier filter is about $30, this filter is definitely pretty reasonably priced.
Choices
The HealthMate mannequin is offered in 4 colours: white, black, sandstone, and midnight blue. I opted for the midnight blue possibility and it matches the accents in my dwelling completely.
When you’re searching for a unit that’s slightly smaller or one which has an much more highly effective filter, Austin Air affords some extra choices in different fashions.
The HealthMate Plus mannequin does every little thing the unique does plus it higher captures chemical substances like formaldehyde because of the addition of potassium iodide. This selection is a good alternative for these affected by wildfires and airborne toxins.
For these with intense allergy points, Austin Air’s Allergy Machine is likely to be the best choice. This unit improves upon the bottom design of the unique with elevated airflow to cut back airborne allergens in half the time.
Lastly, Austin Air affords all of their HealthMate items within the “Junior” measurement. These purifiers are about 7 inches shorter and fewer than half as heavy because the originals.
Professionals & Cons
Professionals
- Clinically confirmed effectiveness
- Highly effective motor
- Successfully removes giant and small particles
- Filter lasts 5 years
- Value-effective to run and preserve
Cons
- Restricted settings
- Pretty giant
- Noisy
Key Options
Clinically Confirmed Air Cleansing Talents
Many air air purifier producers declare their items are efficient at cleansing the air, however solely Austin Air has the medical trials to show it.
By way of six completely different medical trials the HealthMate has been proven to cut back bronchial asthma and COPD signs, successfully clear air in houses with people who smoke, and scale back air pollution related to airplane visitors.
Easy Performance
When allergy symptoms are ruining your life, you don’t have time for fancy settings and an extended record of options. What you want is highly effective filtration that works quick with out all of the glimmer and glam. And that’s what the HealthMate delivers.
With three speeds and no extra buttons, this machine was made to be turned on to shortly and successfully clear the air.
Value Efficient
Given how highly effective this machine is (and, sure, you’ll be able to hear that energy the second you flip it on), you is likely to be shocked to search out out it’s additionally impressively cost-effective to run and preserve.
Even on the best setting, this unit solely prices about 25 cents per day to run nonstop. On the bottom setting, it should solely value you 5 cents per day to run in a single day. Simply as spectacular, the filter lasts 5 years and prices about half as a lot to interchange as the typical dwelling air air purifier filter, whenever you take lifespan into consideration.
Is the HealthMate a Good Worth?
The HealthMate is a sizeable funding, with new items costing simply over $700. Nevertheless, in case you evaluate it to the competitors and think about the efficiency and energy of this mannequin, it’s a formidable worth.
Not solely does it ship higher efficiency than most purifiers on this value vary, however the upkeep prices are a lot decrease. Most competitor purifiers characteristic filters that final solely 9 months or much less and price, on common, about $100 to interchange every time. The HealthMate, by comparability, has a filter that lasts 5 years and prices solely $290 to interchange (this equates to about $44 each 9 months).
Steadily Requested Questions (FAQ)
Basically, the sq. footage score of the HealthMate is about 1500. Nevertheless, Austin Air doesn’t like to take a look at efficiency by way of sq. footage or CADR since there are too many variables that have an effect on these numbers. They recommend utilizing the HealthMate in giant bedrooms and areas and the Junior mannequin in small bedrooms and workplaces.
Does the HealthMate produce any dangerous substances?
No, the HealthMate doesn’t use any chemical or ionizing filters and subsequently doesn’t launch any ozone, ions, or toxins.
How noisy is the HealthMate?
Quick reply, pretty noisy. On excessive it produces a substantial quantity of noise (about 60.5 decibels in accordance with my measurements). On low, it has a pleasant white noise sound and places out about 37 decibels. This stage shouldn’t be too noticeable however it’s noisier than most dwelling air purifiers set to the bottom setting.
Our Expertise With Austin Air’s HealthMate
I’ve reviewed loads of air purifiers all through my profession. I’ve examined every little thing from itty bitty countertop items to purifiers made to fight chemical warfare toxins.
One take a look at the HealthMate and I knew I used to be coping with a unit nearer to the latter finish of the purifying spectrum.
This factor is a beast. The total-steel physique and big filter clarify this unit is constructed for highly effective air purification. In my view, it is a good factor, although it did depart me wishing my bed room was on the primary flooring!
Whereas I don’t have any allergy symptoms to my cat, Makoa, or the opposite pets in my home, I do have persistent respiratory points. I’ve one thing known as “reactive airway,” a sort of bronchial asthma with no clear trigger. Mine appears to be most affected by viruses, however any irritant within the air could make my signs worse.
And that’s why it was value it to haul my HealthMate up the steps to my bed room.
This highly effective air purifier filters not simply cat dander and different allergens, but additionally 99% of pathogens like viruses and micro organism. I hoped that the unit would assist scale back my publicity to every little thing and hopefully enhance my persistent cough and congestion.
I’ve been utilizing the unit nightly for the final week and have already seen enchancment. Most particularly, I’ve woken up persistently with much less stuffiness and have slept extra soundly by way of the evening with fewer cough assaults.
I take advantage of the low setting more often than not. It has a lovely, although not totally quiet sound. My husband loves it and makes use of it instead of our white noise machine at evening.
The upper settings are loud sufficient that they make it onerous to look at TV, however I hardly ever have to make use of these settings. I sometimes solely crank the unit up after cleansing the cat field, vacuuming, or doing anything that kicks up loads of mud. After about fifteen minutes on excessive, the air high quality noticeably improves.
So far as Makoa, my kitty, is anxious, this metallic field is a thriller. Nevertheless, he does appear to take pleasure in sticking his face in entrance of the air outlet and letting his whiskers blow within the breeze. For me, although, this air purifier is life-changing.
It has already helped scale back my respiratory signs and I’m hopeful it might assist stop me from catching each single virus my kindergartener brings dwelling. I additionally actually love the blue coloration!
Conclusion
Whether or not you’re allergic to your cat or simply need your kitties and the remainder of your loved ones to take pleasure in higher high quality air, the HealthMate from Austin Air delivers.
This highly effective air air purifier is clinically confirmed to cut back respiratory signs and clear family air of pathogens, pollution, and allergens. It’s way more utilitarian than your common family air purifier but additionally simpler whereas nonetheless being reasonably priced to run and preserve. For anybody critical about severely clear air, the HealthMate is value a glance.