Honeywell Enviracaire Air Purifiers Have Washable Filters

Washable filters in an air purifier are not for everyone, but can be an advantage for some. Although at first blush, the idea of a washable filter sounds great, the problem is that you do have to take the time…to wash them! For people whose lives are already very busy, adding another appliance that requires regular maintenance may not be wise. Air purifiers with washable filters must be checked fairly often, and the filters properly washed for them to be effective. Many people like the idea of having an air purifier that's easy to operate and requires very little attention. However, if you do have the time and self-discipline to check the air purifier and to wash the filters, a model like the Enviracaire, from Honeywell, may be a good choice.

Generally speaking, HEPA filters are composed of a paper or plastic media that can hold up to 99.97% of the particles that pass through them. For the Enviracaire line of air purifiers, Honeywell developed a HEPA filter with glass fibers that is not treated with chemicals. This fiberglass HEPA filter can be vacuumed, however, it can not be washed with water or placed in the dishwasher. Honeywell recommends that the Enviracaire HEPA filter be vacuumed twice a year. However, we think that it will depend on how much pollution you have in your house. If you have a lot of pets, cigarette smoke, woodstove smoke, or other source of particulate, you might have to vacuum it more often. Every home differs, so it is hard to say definitively, how often you would have to vacuum the HEPA filter.

The activated carbon pre-filter that comes with Enviracaire air purifiers cannot be washed. Honeywell recommends changing it every three months. This too, might differ a bit depending on the sources of odors and chemicals in your home. The carbon pre-filter is fairly small, but will absorb some odors. It does not have a lot of activated carbon like the IQAir, Blueair, Austin Air, and AllerAir models that ClearFlite sells. However, it is less expensive.

The Honeywell line of Enviracaire models are designed for small to medium-sized rooms, and are good air purifiers for bedrooms because of their quiet operation. They will eliminate dust, pollen, mold, and animal dander, and help reduce odors, and germs and bacteria to some extent. However, they do not have the UV light that is available on the more expensive Aller Air line of air purifiers. UV is generally thought to be good at killing viruses, germs, and bacteria. For many people, however, a simple air purifier that will remove particles, is quiet, and not too expensive, is just what they are looking for to use in a bedroom. The Enviracaire fits the bill. Plus, it is made by Honeywell, a company with a good reputation for making air purifiers and a lot of other products.

There are two models of the Enviracaire air purifier, and one model called the QuietCare, which have the washable HEPA filter. All three Honeywell products are good quality and very quiet.