Product review: IQAir HealthPro air purifier is a robust, high-end air filter for home or office

Monday, March 26, 2007 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com (See all articles...) Tags: air filters, air purifiers, IQAir

It's bad enough that we have to suffer with many different sorts of pollution outdoors in our everyday life, but when this sort of contamination invades our homes, what we're often breathing can hardly be called fresh air any longer. Even though it may feel nice to stand in front of an air conditioner on a hot day, the indoor air you're breathing is probably not as refreshing as you might think. It's actually filled with indoor pollutants that may include radon, pet dander, dust mite allergens, tobacco smoke, mold spores and other particles. According to recent findings, indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air.

So how do you get rid of these microbial nightmares and improve the quality of the air you breathe? The solution is simple: air purification technology.

For this NewsTarget review, I decided to take a look at high-end air purifiers currently on the market and the winner was above and beyond the HealthPro series by IQAir (www.iqair.com). Like other competing products, each model is advertised as ideal for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or who just want a more comfortable living environment. But built to last a lifetime as they claim? Now, I was getting a bit skeptical. So I bought one and tried it out to see.

By the way, as you probably already know, this is a truly independent product review. I have no financial relationship with the IQAir company, and I was not paid to write this article. I also earn nothing from the sale of IQAir products.

This is no mini air purifier

Although the design looks nice and modern enough, it is still a big piece of sour eye candy that looms over a room like an out of place coffee table. The HealthPro series might be a little large for some rooms -- all the models are about the size of a mini-fridge. Even the HealthPro Compact unit takes up a good deal of space.

Designed for residential use, the HealthPro series of room air purifiers have a modular tower design and are available in several models including the HealthPro, the HealthPro Compact and the HealthPro Plus.

Here's how they work: The machine draws in air from below, at foot level, picking up airborne mites and dust in the process. It circulates the air inside the machine and filters particles and pollutants through a series of internal filters. The machine combines a total of four advanced filtration technologies to remove particles, pollutants, odors and allergens. Once purified, the air is released out of the top of the machine bringing clean air back into the room. Some HealthPro models don't have all four internal filters, so check the model details carefully in deciding which one might be right for you.

Six fan speeds are featured on every model in the series, which allows the user to choose the ideal performance level desired. Also included with each system is a remote control, a Programmable Control Panel and an Intelligent Filter Life Monitor. I really like the IQAir control panel because it gives you simple, accurate information about what the unit is doing while making it easy for you to control its operation. The LCD display tells you the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air being drawn through the machine, and an LED light reminds you when to change the filter.

You can even set the unit to run on certain speeds at certain times of the day, so that, for example, it's running on a higher setting at night, but slows down during the day to reduce noise. (The fan in this IQAir unit is so strong that when you have it on the highest setting, it's really loud. Too loud to talk on the telephone nearby, actually.)

Origins of IQAir

IQAir first gained notoriety in North America by successfully promoting a cabin air filter for Mercedes-Benz automobiles in the region. This action led to the creation of fan powered room air cleaners, which were not only more effective than what was on the market, but were affordable too. This technology was finally made available in the United States in 2000.

Formed in 1963, the company that would later become IQAir was born as the brainchild of two brothers in Germany, Manfred and Klaus Hammes. What was first introduced to the German consumer was a simple residential filter system. Originally marketed as a way to reduce black dust build up, many users (including Manfred himself) started to notice that it appeared to relieve allergy and asthma symptoms as well. This led to even better technology and eventually, the system marketed and sold today.

IQAir machines produce no undesirable by-products that could harm the consumer or the environment. All IQAir purifiers are certified by the International Association of Air Cleaner Manufacturers (IAACM) to be 100% ozone-free. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that, while killing bacteria, can also affect the respiratory system and reduce lung function. It may cause coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable chest-sesation. It is especially hazardous to those people with weak respiratory systems. Sharper Image got in trouble a few years back when Consumer Reports complained their Ionic air purifiers produced too much dangerous ozone. A class action settlement followed, and now the Sharper Image air purifiers have a catalytic converter that virtually eliminates ozone.

But personally, I like the IQAir a lot better than the Sharper Image air purifiers. IQAir moves a lot of air, and after reviewing these units, I simply don't believe that you can clean a large volume of air unless you're moving a large volume of air through a filtration unit. Any "silent" or "breeze" air purifier, in my opinion, isn't moving enough air to be as effective as I'd like.

Is IQAir worth the high price?

With prices currently ranging from $689 to $835, the IQAir units are certainly not cheap. If you're willing to spend the money and care enough about the air you breathe, however, this system seems well worth the price of admission.

Of course, you have to be able to afford the unit in the first place. It is more like an investment in your future than an everyday appliance you can take for granted. But what if you don't believe that the HealthPro series is worth its price tag?

It seems perfectly reasonable to try and be more cost effective by going with a cheaper unit, but you should be warned that what you mostly get from these lower priced systems is a product that merely recycles polluted air back into your living space. And for a lot of low-cost units, the motors wear out in less than a year. (I know, I've worn out several.)

Do your research carefully before buying any air purifier. If your goal is to truly clean the air in your home or office, the IQAir machine is one that definitely gets the job done. There are many air purifiers to choose from on the market, and some are better than others, but IQAir is one brand that won't leave you feeling like you got ripped off. The air in my home has been cleaner ever since I bought my IQAir HealthPro, and I wouldn't recommend anything less to a friend or family member.

In the future, I hope to find and review other air filter products that may be cheaper and still effective, but in the mean time, this high-end IQAir unit earns my recommendation.