Our Final Verdict
We give the Austin Air Healthmate a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Aesthetics: 4/5
Technology: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Efficacy: 4.5/5
Ease of Maintenance: 4.5/5
Value: 5/5
Austin Air was founded in 1990 in Buffalo, NY. Their first creation, the Healthmate air purifier, was the brainchild of founder Richard Taylor, a businessman determined to help his wife Joyce overcome the respiratory issues she had suffered throughout their marriage. Taylor noticed how much her symptoms subsided when she was in the hospital, and it occurred to him that if he could recreate a hospital-room environment at home, Joyce might be able to live more comfortably and have fewer hospital visits. That’s when he built his first air purifier in his home garage using the same medical-grade HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) and carbon filtration being used in clinical settings. Within one week of operating his homemade device in the couple’s living space, Joyce’s symptoms improved.
The following year, Taylor leased a larger workspace and built 1500 of the flagship model he called the “Healthmate”. Since then, Austin Air has become the largest manufacturer of home air purifiers in the world, with their products still assembled in Buffalo, NY. Austin Air purifiers are sold in over 100 countries, have been proven successful in multiple clinical trials, and are the brand of air cleaners recommended by the Red Cross and FEMA in times of compromised air quality. Today there are five models of purifiers available from Austin Air with varying levels of filtration, but the original Healthmate remains a top choice for customers wanting overall cleaner air in their homes.
About Austin Air
The Austin Air Healthmate was first produced in New York and has been manufactured there for over 30 years. With a global sales market, Austin Air maintains the largest manufacturing facility of high-end air purifiers, which have been third-party tested to prove their efficacy in providing cleaner, safer air in the residences of their customers. Austin Air purifiers were even provided by the government as a precaution to roughly 28,000 Anniston, AL homes ahead of planned destruction of a chemical weapon stockpile in 2003. With multiple clinical trials proving the efficacy of this time-tested brand, and a user-friendly design that virtually anyone can operate, these air purifiers are perfect for everyday use in any household.
Austin Air purifiers have been clinically tested with asthmatic children, pregnant women living with smokers, Boston residents subjected to vehicle pollution, and individuals exposed to nitrogen dioxide from their gas stoves. All of these trials, and more, have produced favorable results indicating that Austin Air filtration devices are useful in removing everyday air pollutants from our indoor air and improving symptoms related to poor air quality. Whether your house is full of pet dander, your allergies from pollen are a concern, or you live in an urban environment with an excess of air pollution, the Austin Air Healthmate purifier can improve your home’s air, and as a result, your overall health.
Healthmate Overview
Pricing
At more than $700, the Healthmate’s initial investment price may prove prohibitive for some customers. But while the Healthmate device is certainly not the cheapest home air purifier available on the market, there are many other “medical-grade” units being sold for home use whose initial purchase costs run into the thousands of dollars. So for the mid-range price of the Healthmate, a clinically-proven air purifier with an extremely low 5-year interval of recommended filter replacement, the value of this device is undeniable. Depending on your health insurance plan, you may also be able to use an FSA or HSA card to pay for your order.
Replacement filters for the original Healthmate are just under $300, but the pro-rated warranty can discount this cost if your original filter does not last the expected 5 years. You can also upgrade your filter to the Healthmate Plus model for improved chemical pollutant filtering, for around $140 more.
While the Austin Air website does not automatically offer free shipping, you may be able to obtain a free shipping coupon code by signing up for their email list prior to purchase (free shipping availability may be affected by customer’s location).
What to Expect
Your Healthmate unit will be delivered in a large, heavy cardboard box with styrofoam cushioning inside that protects the unit during shipping. The box does have handle cutouts on opposite sides for ease of transport once it has been delivered to your home, but the weight of the package will require reasonable strength to bring inside and remove from the box.
Once out of the box, the 47-lb Healthmate is already fully assembled and just needs to be placed with the wheeled platform down so that it can be rolled to its desired location. At 23” tall and a width/depth of 14.5”, this unit does require more space than some competitors’ devices, and must also be placed at least 4” from any vertical surface so as not to obstruct the 360-degree air intake.
To get started cleaning your room air, simply find a good spot for the unit, plug it in, and run on the highest fan speed for one hour – after this, you can turn the fan down to one of the two lower settings. That’s it! No assembly or tricky setup required. The filter is indicated to last up to five years before replacement is necessary.
Returns and Warranty
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee if a customer is not satisfied with their initial Healthmate purchase for any reason. Simply contact Austin Air’s customer service to initiate the return process.
Austin Air provides a 5-year mechanical warranty against manufacturer defects of the motor and fan, provided you completed and returned your warranty card upon receiving your Healthmate after initial purchase or filled out the online warranty registration.
Austin Air also provides a pro-rated 5-year filter warranty, meaning if the original filter fails prior to the 5-year mark, a discount on the cost of a replacement filter will be applied. This discount is variable and based on the number of years the filter was in use prior to needing replacement. The customer is responsible, however, for the shipping cost of the replacement filter.
Pros & Cons
Powder-coated steel construction is durable and non-toxic
Large filter designed to last up to 5 years before replacement
Low-maintenance exterior
Easy manual control to adjust 3 fan speeds
Combined technology of medical-grade True HEPA filtration and activated carbon
Pre-filter catches larger particles ahead of the HEPA/carbon filter
4 color options
Low fan noise
360-degree air intake
Caster wheels promote portability
Cleans air in up to 1500 square feet of space
Multiple successful clinical trials
Recommended by FEMA and Red Cross
Can be purchased with FSA or HSA funds
30-day money-back guarantee
5-year mechanical warranty on device
5-year pro-rated filter warranty
Interchangeable filters with Healthmate Plus model
Large, heavy device
No app available for remote use or monitoring
Unclear method to indicate filter replacement
Key Features
Powder-coated Steel Housing
The original Healthmate comes in four colors: black, white, sandstone, and midnight blue. This gives the customer some opportunity to help this large industrial-looking device fit into their decor. The color is powder-coated onto the exterior steel housing, an intentional design choice that ensures no toxic off-gassing into your home’s air. There is also no plastic used in the housing, which could not only release its own toxins over time but could also absorb pollutants it comes into contact with.
Portability
Four caster wheels on the bottom of this large, heavy device ensure it is still portable. Once seated on these wheels, it is easily rolled across smooth surfaces (plush carpeting will offer more resistance) and can be used in virtually any room. It is possible, for example, to use it in the living room during the day, and roll it to your bedroom at night. If you don’t want to move it, choose a location that you spend the most time in – Austin Air recommends the bedroom.
Filter Longevity
The 5-year estimated filter life of the Healthmate is the longest you will find in any residential air purifier on the market. This is achieved by the large filter size, which allows 60 square feet of True HEPA and 780 cubic inches of activated charcoal to be used for filtration. Most of the less expensive air purification devices on the market require expensive filter changes every 6 months, or advertise a ‘washable filter’, which not only exposes the user to harmful toxins but also results in the breakdown of these reusable filters over time, resulting in fewer particles captured.
5-year Warranty
Austin Air stands behind their clinically proven, time-tested products. They not only provide a 5-year mechanical warranty for the device’s fan and motor but also a 5-year pro-rated filter warranty, which allows discounted pricing on replacement filters if the original filter fails prior to the 5-year mark. Just remember to either complete the online warranty registration or mail back your completed warranty card as soon as you receive your new Healthmate.
Is the Austin Air Healthmate a Good Value?
The cost of the Austin Air Healthmate is more upfront than you typically pay with other air purifiers. However, when you factor in the clinically proven effectiveness, durable construction, and filter longevity, this easy-to-operate filtration device proves a valuable addition to any home. Unburdened by frequent expensive filter replacements so common in competitor models, users of the Austin Air Healthmate can breathe easier knowing they’ve invested in a product that will last.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q) What color options are available for the Healthmate?
The flagship Healthmate model comes in four powder-coated colors: black, white, sandstone, and midnight blue.
Q) How big is this air purifier?
The website specifies 23” in height, but the exact measurement including the caster wheels is closer to 22.5”. The width and depth are both 14.5”, and keep in mind, this device needs to be placed at least 4” away from any wall or other surface that might interfere with the 360-degree air intake.
Q) How difficult is the filter replacement?
Somewhat difficult as the device is rather cumbersome. The 47-lb unit must be flipped over so that the bottom wheeled platform is facing up. Then a screwdriver is necessary to remove four screws and lift off the base. The large filter inside is well-seated and requires a little wiggle to work loose so that it can be lifted up and out. While Austin Air recommends using “work gloves”, I would recommend more effective PPE including disposable gloves and a mask while performing this task, and place the used filter gently inside a garbage bag for immediate This is to prevent previously captured particulates from contacting the user’s skin or being inhaled during this process.
Q) How will I know when the filter needs replaced?
The Austin Air website states that when the filtered air being expelled from the vent on the upper side of your unit does not smell crisp and clean, your filter is in need of replacement. This could be difficult to ascertain depending on many factors. But as regular maintenance to preserve the life of the HEPA and carbon filter inside, Austin Air recommends using a brush attachment to vacuum the exterior air-intake surfaces to remove larger dust and pet hair that may be present. There is also a “pre-filter” for catching larger particles just inside the air intake that can be replaced for around $35 if it appears saturated with debris.
Our Experience With the Austin Air Healthmate
It’s springtime in Florida, and after an unusually warm winter, the pollen has been thick. With my allergy symptoms starting to flare, a spouse who vapes nicotine indoors, and a new rescued dog adding to the fur on my floor, I decided this year to try a home air purifier.
I received my Austin Air Healthmate about a week ago. The delivery driver left the large heavy box next to our mailbox about 500 feet from my home, which meant I had to drive up to retrieve the package. It was a little tricky getting it into my car, and once I got it back home, I wisely chose to wait for my spouse to bring it upstairs to our primary living space.
Once in our upstairs living room, removal from the box was also a little tricky – make sure the correct end is opened so you can place the device on its wheels and lift the box up and off. Once out of the box, everything else was a breeze. I moved it around my living room while I decided on its final placement. Austin Air recommends placing it in a bedroom, but I chose to put it along the living room wall between the kitchen and the sliding glass door we use the most.
Following the owner’s manual instructions, I ran the Healthmate for one hour at the highest fan speed, then turned it down to the lowest setting. The highest speed was about as noisy as your typical oscillating fan, and as someone who already sleeps with a fan on, I did not find it bothersome. On the lowest setting, however, the fan noise is barely noticeable.
The Healthmate is a large industrial-looking device, and does not possess much design appeal, but you can choose the color option that works best for you. I chose “sandstone” and am not bothered by the appearance of the unit in my home. The animals are not bothered by the fan noise, and I have noticed an improvement in my air quality since using it. Thanks to True HEPA filtration, my seasonal allergy symptoms of an itchy throat and stuffy nose have subsided, and kitchen odors from cooking dissipate faster than usual. While not readily apparent, I also know that capture of harmful chemicals from my spouse’s vaping is occurring through the adsorption capability of the activated carbon.
With three dogs and a cat who all shed quite a bit, one of the greatest benefits of the Healthmate for me is controlling pet dander. My living room not only smells fresher already, but I know that this device will always capture the dust and dander stirred up by my frequent vacuuming, ensuring that these particles are not going to be inhaled or settle on other surfaces. In addition, the large interior filter will not be overwhelmed by the excess of pet hair, thanks to the pre-filter. Austin Air really thought of everything when they created the Healthmate air purifier.
Conclusion
The Healthmate air purifier is a relatively large unit when compared to other portable filtration systems. However, its steel housing and large True HEPA with activated carbon filter come together to create a low-maintenance workhorse that filters everyday pollutants out of your household air. The original Healthmate air purifier by Austin Air is a great basic model possessing a quiet 3-speed fan and simple manual controls, which will maximize 24/7 user compliance and ensure that this device produces cleaner, safer air for up to five years without intervention.
