What is the less expensive Hepa air purifier? (considering filters change)?
Does anyone knows a good option for a hepa air purifier considering the costs for repleacing the filters?
- Does anyone knows a good option for a hepa air purifier considering the costs for repleacing the filters? –
I am trying to find out what are the overall costs of buying an air purifier with HEPA system. How much does it costs to replace the filters and how often ?
whats an air purifier?
I’m not sure if this is what you wanted, but I would go for one that is included on a vacuum cleaner. Some are even rinsable, so they don’t need changed as often, at least my Shark is like this. Usually the HEPAs come on the higher end bagless cyclonics, but that isn’t always true, and they are coming down in price all the time. There are some well within the 150 US dollar range…is that in the budget? Keep in mind this is for a HEPA machine, with a vac thrown in!
Of course, they aren’t in use all the time…but if you even set it up in the corner to run for a couple minutes without vacuuming, it would clean the air nicely. And then you aren’t paying elec to run it all the time.
For strictly air quality machines, you can also consider an ionic purifier. There are different price ranges, and they are good for even the teeny tiniest bacteria just like a HEPA, they kind of work on the principles of magnetism, I think (ions are “sticky”) instead of trapping the particles in the microscopic grid of a HEPA filter. Plus all you have to do is wipe the metal bar inside. No maintenance costs.
One definite downside of my ionic machine, I have one called Ionic Pro, a knockoff of a Sharper Image…is that it makes a distinct irritating noise. It isn’t loud, or constant. It kind of sounds like a bug zapper on extremely low volume, it is a popping/rattling sound. It also makes a little squeaky noise. For the longest time, I thought I had mice in my walls! Once I knew this wasn’t the case, I was a lot better off and could tune it out.
Sears has a few models of HEPA air purifiers that are decent….however, the replacement filters are expensive – about $100 each year. The initial cost of the one I bought at Sears was about $200…I have had it for three years, works great, but in that time I have spent an extra $250 on filters (most HEPA air purifiers also need a “pre-filter” that filters out larger particles – they are cheap, but add to the overall cost). Also, HEPA air purifiers can be quite loud because of the overall movement of air they cause…they basically work like powerful fans.
I have been researching alternatives for myself, since the filter cost is so high and I dont like the noise. After a few months of looking around I am going with the Ionic Breeze from Sharper Image. They cost a little more at the beginning, but are silent, better at trapping/killing germs, and no filters to replace. Plus, I have recently seen specials for BUY ONE GET ONE FREE….around $400.
I would suggest Alen or Sharp air purifiers if you’re looking for one that’s effective and economical in the long run.
Sharp Plasmacluster is a good option.The filter lasts around 5 years and the pre-filter washable. However, it’s air cleaning power is not as good as an Alen’s. It costs you around $260.
The Alen A250 is for small room and it’s around $250. The replacement filter is around $40 and lasts for 9 mths.
There are other cheaper air purifiers like the Austin or Honeywell. However, the replacement filter costs are much higher than an Alen’s or Sharp’s in the long term.
So, think long term. Air purifiers are machines that will burn your pocket in the long run if you don’t do the maths correctly.
Good luck!
MY husband and I purshased the Oreck air purifier and it is wonderful and my husband does not snore any more.