Over five years, an Austin Air HealthMate costs its purchase price and nothing more in filters, because its one main filter is designed to last up to five years. Airpura machines cost more to run, because their carbon is replaced every two years and their prefilters every year. The table below shows what each popular machine costs to own for five years, using our current prices and each maker's own replacement intervals.
Five-year cost, machine plus filters
| Machine | Machine price | Filters in years 1 to 5 | Five-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Air HealthMate Junior | $609.99 | $0 | $609.99 |
| Austin Air HealthMate | $844.99 | $0 | $844.99 |
| Austin Air HealthMate Plus | $894.99 | $0 | $894.99 |
| Austin Air Bedroom Machine | $994.99 | $0 | $994.99 |
| Airpura I600+ | $999.98 | $139.96 to $569.94 | $1,139.94 to $1,569.92 |
| Airpura R600 | $849.98 | $597.96 to $713.96 | $1,447.94 to $1,563.94 |
| Airpura C600 | $1,049.98 | $1,109.92 | $2,159.90 |
| Airpura T600 | $1,049.98 | $1,229.92 or more | $2,279.90 or more |
Prices are ours on October 19, 2026, black or white finish, and every machine ships with its first set of filters. Ranges cover the True HEPA filter, which Airpura rates at 3 to 5 years.
How we worked it out
- Austin Air: one main filter, designed to last up to five years in normal home use. The next one is due around year five: $294.99 for the HealthMate Junior, $394.99 for the HealthMate, $444.99 for the HealthMate Plus and $544.99 for the Bedroom Machine. Heavy smoke or very long daily run times can shorten that.
- Airpura R600: Airpura lists the prefilter at 12 months, the carbon at 24 months and the True HEPA at 3 to 5 years. We sell R600 filters as bundles: two carbon-and-prefilter bundles ($298.98 each), or one of those plus the $414.98 bundle that adds the HEPA if it is due before year five. Prefilters for the years in between are extra; ask us.
- Airpura C600 and T600: these use a HEPA Barrier filter that Airpura lists at one year, plus 26 lbs of carbon at 24 months. The T600's TarBarrier prefilter is rated 6 to 12 months, so heavy smoking costs more.
- Airpura I600+: prefilter and True HEPA only, no carbon. Two prefilter two-packs ($69.98 each), plus the $429.98 HEPA-and-prefilter bundle if the HEPA is due before year five.
Why the totals differ
A longer filter life is not free. Austin Air builds one large, sealed filter (15 lbs of carbon in the full-size HealthMate) and replaces it as a unit. Airpura splits its filters into stages you change separately, which costs more over time but lets you change only what is spent. The C600 and T600 cost the most because they carry 26 lbs of carbon and a yearly barrier filter, which is what heavy chemical and smoke work needs. See how much activated carbon an air purifier needs.
Comparing against a lower-priced brand? See HealthMate Plus vs AirDoctor 3500, with the five-year math.
Common questions
Do I have to buy a filter subscription?
No. We do not sell subscriptions or auto-ship. You order a filter when it is due.
How do I know when the filter is spent?
For carbon, smells come back while the machine runs. For HEPA, airflow drops noticeably. Calendar intervals are a guide; your air decides.
Does running it all day shorten filter life?
The intervals above already assume continuous use in a typical home. A machine sized larger than your room works less hard, which helps. See what size air purifier you need.
Where do I buy replacements?
On our replacement filters page, genuine filters from both makers, shipped free.
Not sure which machine fits your room and budget? Email support@freshhomeair.com and Nolan will answer it himself. Every machine ships free with a 30-day home trial.
