The Austin Air HealthMate Plus is a steel, four-stage HEPA and carbon purifier built for chemical odors and gases as well as particles. It costs $894.99, takes one main filter that is designed to last up to five years, and is the machine our customers have bought most. Here is what it does, what it does not do, what it costs to own, and who should buy the standard HealthMate instead.
The short version
- Buy it if chemical smells, new furniture, cleaning products, fragrance or smoke odor are part of the problem, alongside dust, dander or pollen.
- Buy the standard HealthMate instead if your problem is particles only: dust, pet dander, pollen. It has the same HEPA and the same 15 lbs of carbon, and costs $50 less.
- Look elsewhere if you want an app, a screen or a small footprint. It is a 47 lb steel cabinet with a three-speed dial.
Specifications
| Spec | HealthMate Plus |
|---|---|
| Price | $894.99 |
| Filtration | 4 stages: pre-filter, medium particle filter, carbon blend, True HEPA |
| HEPA | True HEPA, 99.97% at 0.3 microns |
| Carbon | 15 lbs, part of it treated for chemical gases |
| Coverage | Up to 1,500 sq ft at one air change an hour, 750 sq ft at two |
| Fan | 3 speeds |
| Cabinet | Steel, 360-degree intake |
| Weight | 47 lbs |
| Ozone, ionizer, UV | None |
| Main filter life | Designed to last up to 5 years in normal home use |
| Warranty | 5 years against defects in materials and workmanship |
| Made in | Buffalo, New York |
What the "Plus" actually changes
The Plus does not carry more carbon than the standard HealthMate. Both have 15 lbs. The difference is what that carbon is. On the Plus, part of the bed is treated for better adsorption of specific chemicals such as formaldehyde, which plain carbon holds poorly. That is the whole reason to pay the extra $50.
| HealthMate | HealthMate Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $844.99 | $894.99 |
| HEPA | True HEPA | True HEPA |
| Carbon | 15 lbs | 15 lbs, part treated for chemical gases |
| Best for | Dust, dander, pollen, everyday odors | Chemical smells, off-gassing, fragrance, smoke odor |
We go through the choice in more detail in HealthMate vs HealthMate Plus.
What it costs to own for five years
The main filter is $444.99 and is designed to last up to five years in normal home use. Spread over five years, that is about $89 a year. Add a pre-filter ($34.49) if the one in the machine wears out sooner, which it can with pets. Running costs beyond that are electricity.
When you compare purifiers, do this sum for each one: filter price times the number of replacements in five years. A cheap machine with a filter every six to twelve months can cost more over five years than this one. We explain how in how to judge a $900 air purifier.
Sizing
Our product page lists the HealthMate Plus at 1,500 sq ft for one air change an hour and 750 sq ft for two; we have asked Austin Air to confirm the basis behind those figures. For allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivity, use the 750 figure. For wildfire smoke, the EPA's rule of thumb works out to roughly five air changes an hour, which by our arithmetic is a room of about 300 sq ft. The method is in what size air purifier do I need.
Who it is for
- People sensitive to chemicals, fragrance or off-gassing from new furniture, flooring or renovation
- Homes with smoke odor as well as particles
- Allergy or asthma households that also notice chemical smells
- Anyone who wants one filter change every few years rather than several a year
Comparing against a lower-priced brand? See HealthMate Plus vs AirDoctor 3500, with the five-year math.
Common questions
Is the HealthMate Plus worth it over the HealthMate?
Only if chemicals or odors are part of the problem. For particles alone, the standard HealthMate does the same job for $50 less.
How loud is it?
It has three fan speeds. The lowest is the quietest; the highest moves the most air and is louder. Austin Air's FAQ gives a range of under 50 dB to 65 dB depending on fan setting, with no figure per model, so if noise matters a great deal, use the 30-day home trial in the room you plan to use it in.
Does the HealthMate Plus have the HEGA carbon cloth?
No. That cloth is on Austin Air's Bedroom Machine and Immunity Machine, not on the HealthMate Plus. A lot of sites get this wrong; we explain it in does the HealthMate Plus have it.
Does it produce ozone?
No. It is mechanical filtration only: no ionizer, no UV lamp, no ozone.
How long does the filter really last?
Austin Air designs it to last up to five years in normal home use. Heavy smoke or strong chemical loads use the carbon faster. If smells come back while the machine is running, the carbon is full.
Has it been studied?
Austin Air machines have been used in clinical studies at Johns Hopkins University, and FEMA and the American Red Cross selected Austin Air purifiers after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy.
Every machine ships free and comes with a 30-day home trial. Shop the HealthMate Plus.
