Austin Air Purifier: Pros, Cons, & My Personal Review

If you’ve been searching for air filters for your home you have no doubt come across an Austin Air purifier. This company is well known for its clinically proven, low-maintenance, quality-made products.

But why choose this brand over the number of others out there?

Let me save you a little time and research as I show you the pros, cons, and why I ended up choosing an Austin Air cleaner for our home.

If you’re ready, let’s jump right in!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Table Of Contents

Do I Really Need An Air Filter?
Austin Air Purifiers Overview
Types Of Austin Air Purifier
The Bedroom Machine
Healthmate Standard Air Purifier
Austin Air Healthmate Plus
Austin Air Allergy Purifier
Austin Air Purifier Filters
Potential Drawbacks Of Austin Air Purifiers
Would I Recommend Austin Air Purifier?
FAQs About Austin Air Purifiers
Last Thoughts About Austin Air Purifiers….
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Do I Really Need An Air Filter?

There is a common misconception that the air in your home is cleaner than the outside, but for many, this is not true.

In fact, more and more people are realizing that the air in your home can be toxic and harmful to your health.

A top-quality air purifier can greatly reduce or eliminate much of the pollution in your indoor air, including allergens and even viruses!

But which is the best one to choose?

If you do a quick search you’ll see that Austin Air purifiers are arguably one of the most popular brands to buy.

Does that mean they are the right choice for you and your needs? Possibly!

Austin Air Purifiers Overview

If you’re looking for some quick info and a personal review of Austin Air cleaners, keep reading. This info is for you!

How Do Austin Air Filters Work?

Austin Air units use medical-grade HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air) filtration Systems. They use a 4 stage filter process which they claim removes 99.97 % of air contaminants down to 0.3 microns.

HEPA air purifiers can also remove 95% of air contaminants as small as 0.1 microns.

Austin Air purifiers are clinically proven to drastically improve the quality of your indoor air outperforming many other air purifiers on the market.

What Kinds Of Air Contaminants Do Austin Air Filters Remove?

Using their 4 stage filtration system, the Austin air purifier is able to remove larger particles such as dust, hair, and pet dander.

They then remove medium and small particles such as pollen, smoke and the off-gasses from chemicals such as VOCs (Volatile organic compounds widely found in homes).

And if you choose a purifier with a HEGA carbon cloth, viruses and bacteria will be trapped and destroyed. Now that’s impressive!

Do Austin Air Purifiers Work?

I can say that Austin Air purifiers do work!

They are the only medical-grade and clinically proven air purifiers on the market. These purifiers are not only used in homes, but in doctor’s offices, schools, and government buildings too.

Who Can Benefit From Using An Austin Air Filter?

Everyone deserves to breathe in clean air, so almost everyone can benefit from having one of these in their homes!

However, some people are more sensitive to air contaminants than others.

People who have respiratory conditions, allergies, and those with chemical sensitivities are likely to notice the effects more, but even those without health issues can enjoy the benefits of cleaner indoor air.

The great thing about these filters is that they remove particulate matter in the air that is a common cause of irritation in people with respiratory conditions, and certain models can even reduce the number of airborne viruses in your home!

Do The Austin Air Filters Produce Or Off-Gas Anything Harmful?

Unlike some filters which use other methods to purify the air, Austin Air filters leave no by-products such as ozone (which The EPA has said can cause shortness of breath, throat irritation, and can even be damaging to the lungs!).

They only produce vastly cleaner air.

The Austin Air filter is made from strong, long-lasting materials.

It uses steel as its frame which is covered using non-toxic powder-based paint.

Types Of Austin Air Purifier

There are several Austin Air units described below which can be used depending on your needs.

General Specifications:

Dimensions: 14.5″L x 14.5″W x 23″H
360-degree air intake
3-speed centrifugal fan
High-efficiency motor rated for continuous use at high RPM
CSA approved
Design: Black or Sandstone

All air cleaners are low-maintenance, reasonably sized devices that fit into your home nicely, and are on easy-roll casters which make them easily moveable around your home.

The filters are designed to be used continuously and are able to do the job effectively with the high-speed motor and 360-degree air intake for efficient and fast air purification.

With each air cleaner, you can choose how strong you want the machine to operate with its three-speed option.

The Bedroom Machine

The bedroom machine is the most comprehensive air cleaner that Austin offers.

It is designed to improve indoor air quality in the bedroom (but we actually use this one in our main living area).

Since sleep is when your body rests and repairs, having clean air during this process is certainly helpful, adding to a restful night’s sleep.

It’s great for those who struggle to sleep due to respiratory conditions such as asthma or allergies.

Specification:

5 stage filtration system including 5th HEGA (High-Efficiency gas absorption) filtration component.
Weight: 47 lbs

Why Choose The Austin Air Bedroom Machine?

In clinical trials, it was proven to remove 95 % of airborne contaminants as small as 0.1 microns (this includes allergens, dust, dander, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses)
This filter also reduces VOCs, chemicals, and gases that may be problematic

If you’re interested in the Bedroom Machine, you can find more information on the Austin Air website or easily purchase this machine from Amazon.

It really is the perfect choice for producing excellent air quality!

Healthmate Standard Air Purifier

The Austin Air Health Mate is an original air filtration system designed to address all in-home air purifying needs.

It is a great machine for any room in the house.

Specifications:

4 stage filtration system
Weight: 47 lbs

Benefits of the Healthmate Air Purifier

This air filter is good at removing all kinds of airborne allergens in your home.

It is great for general use and will remove large (dust and pet dander) to medium (pollen and smoke) to very small (bacteria and some viruses as well as toxic gasses) particulate matter in your home air.

This is a great all-around general air cleaning device.

Austin Air Healthmate Plus

The Healthmate Plus is an advanced air cleaning system from Austin.

It is ideal for those who know they are exposed to greater amounts of air contaminants.

This is a great one to use in places such as dentists where exposure to certain air bourn chemicals may be greater as well as those exposed to wood smoke. Perfect for homes contaminated by wildfire smoke.

Specifications:

Weight: 47 lbs
4 stage filtration system

Benefits Of The Austin Air Healthmate Plus

The Healthmate Plus is a great one for removing high concentrations of air contaminants including aerosolized viruses (common at dentists), VOCs, gases, and formaldehyde, along with other environmental contaminants.

Austin Air Allergy Purifier

This Austin Air allergy machine is an air filter specifically designed to effectively filter out common allergens for people who suffer from allergies and asthma.

It has increased airflow capabilities which very quickly filter out allergens in the air.

Specifications

Weight: 29 lbs
4 stage filtration system

Benefits Of The Allergy Machine

This is a great machine for those who are living in damp homes.

It’s designed to quickly remove mold spores, dust, pollen, and other biologic allergens including some bacteria and viruses.

Austin Air Purifier Filters

How do they work?

Austin Air purifiers use a carbon filter within the air cleaners that are specifically designed to be highly effective at filtering out almost all airborne contaminants.

They use activated carbon and zeolite to actively filter out odors and toxic gasses.

An In-Depth Look At How Austin Air Filters Work

As mentioned earlier in the article, these air cleaners work by using a 4 stage filtration system.

1st stage: pre-filter. Removes visible particles.
2nd stage: removes medium and small particulate matter from the sir e.g spores, pollen, and mold.
3rd stage: made from Activated Carbon, Impregnated Carbon, Zeolite, and Potassium Iodide. Removing toxic gasses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
4th stage: Made from True Medical Grade HEPA which removed most particles down to 0.1 microns in size including bacteria and viruses.

*If you opt for the Bedroom Machine, this model actually has a 5th stage which includes a military-grade HEGA carbon cloth for even more filtration power!

Filter Maintenance

With many air filters on the markets, their expensive filters need to be changed relatively regularly. When you have an Austin Air purifier, with general use, the air filter only needs to be changed every 5 years.

This durability is excellent and they do not lose any of their effectiveness over this time.

Filter Compatibility

What is really excellent about the Austin air filters, is that the filters are interchangeable between the different types of air purifiers. If you buy a standard machine and want to change the type of filter (choosing between other standard machine filters) you can do that!

For example, the standard Austin Air health mate will be able to use filters made for the standard size bedroom filter, the allergy machine as well as the health mate plus.

If you purchased the pet filter you can use this in any of the air purifiers on offer from Austin Air.

And best of all, filters are fairly simple and easy to change. Which is great for those of us who aren’t very mechanically inclined.

Potential Drawbacks Of Austin Air Purifiers

As you have read above, I was pretty impressed with the performance, effectiveness, ease of use, and long filter life of Austin air purifiers, but there are a few drawbacks I have found after having my air purifiers for a while.

These drawbacks were not enough for me to choose another air filter, but if you’re researching the best air purifier, it is something you should keep in mind.

Noise Level

One of the main downfalls I have found is noise.

My Austin Air purifiers do a great job at cleaning the air, but they don’t particularly do this quietly.

The noise level ranges between 50 and 65 decibels. Many on the market are quieter than this.

The noise very much depends on what centrifugal speed you choose to have it on, the fasted obviously being the loudest.

When my machine is on level one or two, it is pretty quiet. But when I turn it up to level three, it is definitely louder!

This is how I deal with the loud noise level- the first few days we ran the purifier on the highest level, then we turned it down to level two.

If we do turn the filter up to the highest level (because of a remodeling project, allergy season, or other reasons) I turn the filter in the main living space on high at night while everyone is sleeping and turn it down in the morning. For the purifiers in the bedrooms, I do the opposite- they are on high during the day, and on level two at night.

Design

If the design is important to you, you may be disappointed to learn they only have two designs.

For some this is irrelevant but for others, aesthetics are important so there is a limited choice here.

However, they do come in white, sandstone, or black which does tend to fit in with most home décor.

Low Tech

Having a low-tech machine may not seem like a drawback, and for many, it isn’t, but there are those who prefer a digital system along with some of the features that may provide.

For example, one of the complaints some have about these air purifiers is that there is no timer or filter replacement indicator.

None of the Austin Air purifier models currently have those features, so if that’s high on the list of must-haves, then these may not be the best choice for you. But, if you don’t mind a low-tech machine, this could be a great option.

Would I Recommend Austin Air Purifier?

For me, this is a resounding, yes!

In fact, I bought three! (A Bedroom Machine, a Healthmate, and a Healthmate Plus 😉)

Why?

It is the only medical grade and clinically proven air filtration system that actually works to reduce air contaminants in the home
They are made in the USA
A 5-year warranty
These purifiers are sturdy, well-built, and versatile
Many options to choose from
Easy to maintain
Filters only need to be changed every 5 years

You can really purchase a product that will cater to you and your family’s needs depending on what kind of air filtration system you require, or even which room you plan to use it in.

It’s also great that you can change the level of air purification just by changing the filter rather than having to buy a whole new air purifier.

While the price may look expensive (and it no doubt is!) I looked at it as an investment and can honestly say I haven’t regretted the purchase even once.

Especially when you compare this to other options out there in the market, which quite frankly, just didn’t measure up to the standards when I was searching for an air purifier.

All in all, these are great air purifiers for your home and health.

FAQs About Austin Air Purifiers

Still have a few questions? No problem! I’ll try to answer a few of the more common ones people often ask us after seeing our machines.

Is This The Best Air Purifier For Chemical Sensitivity?

Every person’s needs are different, but I do believe that Austin Air purifiers could be helpful for those with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) because of their ability to remove contaminants, VOCs, allergens, and other chemicals from the air so effectively. Remember- these are medical-grade purifiers!

How Long Does An Austin Air filter last?

According to the company, filters should last around 5 years with regular (residential) use. If you find that your filter needs to be changed before the 5-year mark, Austin Air will prorate the cost of your new filter.

Is An Austin Air Purifier Loud?

I have to be honest, this is not the quietest air filter we have used. On the highest setting, it can be quite loud, especially in a small room. But, after the initial week of having it on high, we turned our machine down to the second level and it is much quieter. Now we’re used to the noise and don’t even notice it. Plus, in our mind, it is a small price to pay for much cleaner air.

Should You Leave Your Air Purifier On All Day?

We do. Our house is old, we have a dog, and I feel better with it running all day to keep the air fresh, clean, and free from contaminants. Plus, having an air purifier like Austin Air Bedroom machine with a HEGA carbon cloth can help reduce and remove airborne viruses and bacteria (including Covid-19!).

Where Are Austin Air Purifiers Made?

According to their website, Austin Air purifiers are made in Buffalo, New York! (If you get a chance, check out their website and read about how the company was started, it’s a kind of a sweet story!)

Last Thoughts About Austin Air Purifiers….

As you can see, I love our air purifiers. We have tried many over the years and the three different Austin Air models we have now are all superior in every way to the others.

It is definitely an expense, and I was hesitant to spend that much for purifiers, especially because the others we had tried before didn’t seem to work, but since Austin Air has a 30-day return policy I figured we had nothing to lose.

I’m glad we took that small leap of faith and gave them a try, I haven’t regretted it once since we got them.

So, if you’re looking for a low-tech, super simple, but highly effective air purifier, put Austin Air on your list and check them out!

Have you tried the Austin Air purifier? Or, do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

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