Honeywell is a respected air purifier manufacturer so I enjoy reviewing its models tremendously. I’ve decided to take a look at this air purifier thanks to its excellent design, large coverage area, several interesting modes, and a reasonable price tag.
This series of models includes different units. HPA300 is the largest of them all. The manufacturer claims that it can clean rooms up to 475 square feet, which is the size of a large living room. Even though the air purifier doesn’t seem small, it appears nicely designed.
The price tag is average, which is a rarity for high quality.
Let’s take a closer look at this purifier to learn which homeowners it works for the best.
Filtration System
The air purifier has a simple two-part filtration system. No matter how many times I’ve checked, I couldn’t find anything extraordinary about it. However, the two filters the unit has are more than enough to keep any home clean.
Carbon pre-filter – this filter takes care of odors, VOCs, smoke, and harmful gases. It does an excellent job filtering the air in any room of your home, including kitchens, bathrooms, attic, and basement. This filter has to be replaced once every three months. Remember, it can’t be washed, only replaced. The cost of a four-pack is about $20.
True HEPA filter – this powerful filter removes 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter. It fights pet dander, mold spores, allergens, and other airborne contaminants. This filter should be replaced once every 6 to 12 months depending on the quality of the air in your home as well as the frequency of the air purifier use. The cost of one Honeywell replacement filter is $30. You can find cheaper generic options by other manufacturers on the market as well.
The air purifier has replacement indicators for both filters. So you don’t have to worry about remembering the replacement dates. However, you should still open the air purifier every couple of months to see how filters look. If they appear dirty or highly clogged, consider replacing them before the time is up since the above-mentioned periods are general recommendations.
If you aren’t planning to use the air purifier for more than a week, it’s better to remove all filters, put them in plastic bags, and store the unit in a dark and cool place.
The fact that this air purifier doesn’t have any special extra filters didn’t scare me away. In reality, unless you have serious breathing or contamination problems, these two filters are more than enough. They can provide excellent results if you replace them regularly.
The total annual maintenance cost of this air purifier is about $50 which is quite a low price compared to other models. Due to the presence of the carbon filter, this unit is starting to appear in many lists of the best air purifiers for smoke.
Design
It’s hard to call this air purifier small. Its dimensions are 9.2 x 20 x 22.2 inches. The weight is about 20 pounds. The formidable size of the unit allows it to fit a powerful fan, which makes it an exceptional choice for large spaces.
When designing this air purifier, the manufacturer made one unfortunate mistake and failed to add caster wheels. Moving the unit around without them can be tough. Thankfully, it has a handle on each side to simplify transportation.
I would recommend installing this air purifier at least 5 inches away from any obstacles. Even though it’s not too light, it is easy to stumble upon it. That’s why putting it away from the common routes may be a good idea.
I enjoy the way the control panel is designed. It has several straightforward buttons for quick operation and only two LED indicators for filter replacement.
Overall, the HPA300 model has a great design, suitable for homes and offices. However, it could appear too large in a small room. If you are looking for air purification options to clean smaller spaces, consider such models as HPA 200 or HPA 100. They are cheaper too.
Smart Options
When I first looked at the air purifier, I concluded that it has numerous smart options because of the number of buttons on the panel. I was a bit skeptical about them because the air purifier had a simple filtration system.
While reviewing the unit, I figured out what the buttons meant. Labels “germ”, “general clean”, “allergen”, and “turbo” signify the fan speeds. It’s just Honeywell’s approach to fan adjustment. “Germ” is the lowest speed. While “Turbo” is the highest. So don’t expect the air purifier to have special regimes for fighting germs or allergens. It can remove them anyway. Since we have this tough part settled, let’s go on to the smart options.
This air purifier is not packed with features like its more expensive counterparts are. However, it has all the necessary options a high-quality air purifier should have. I singled out what I appreciated about this unit.
Filter replacement indicator – this is one of a few air purifiers that I’ve ever reviewed that has a filter replacement indicator for each of the filters. Usually, you have to monitor pre-filters on your own or replace them together with HEPA filters. This one tells you when it’s time to change them separately. An excellent option!
Dimmer – here is my personal favorite. As a light sleeper, I don’t enjoy LED panels that don’t let me doze off. On this air purifier, I can turn the light off with a special button any time I like. So it’s a great air purifier for bedroom use.
Timer – if you want to control your air purifier when you are away from home, you can use the timer. You can set it for intervals of 2, 4, and 8 hours. The unit will stop working when the time is up.
Overall, I can give a good rating to this air purifier’s smart options. The only downside for me is the lack of an air quality sensor. So since you don’t have a way to figure out when the air is contaminated, I recommend running the air purifier on “turbo” for 12 hours after you install it to clean the air thoroughly. Then you can keep it working at one of the lowest speeds (general clean or allergen).
During the night, you can choose the “germ” setting. If you aren’t using the air purifier for a day or more, run it on turbo for several hours to clean the air before switching back to the lower settings.
Noise Levels
These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find a noisy air purifier. The majority of them isn’t too loud. Honeywell’s units aren’t an exception. Let’s look at the numbers:
- Germ setting – 43 dB
- General setting – 50 dB
- Allergen setting – 55 dB
- Turbo setting – 61 dB
At the lowest setting, the air purifier produces 43 dB. The noise is comparable to the sound of a computer working. Even though it’s not 100% silent, the unit produces white noise, which many homeowners enjoy. However, if you want to ensure utter silence in your bedroom, it doesn’t offer such an option. Check out some units that do.
At the highest setting, the purifier produces 61 dB. You can compare it to the sound of conversational speech. This may not be suitable for working or watching TV. However, you should only use the Turbo setting for the first few hours of your air purifier’s work. Then you can go on to the quieter speeds.
The noise produced by general and allergen settings is comparable to the sound of a refrigerator working. It shouldn’t interfere with your everyday activities. If you aren’t a light sleeper, you can use either of them during the night as well.
Coverage Area
I always pay special attention to the declared coverage area of the air purifier. The trick is that any purifier can clean a large space, but how long will it take? Different units can provide a different number of air changes per hour. The more air changes the purifier offers, the better it can clean your air.
To figure out how big of a space an air purifier can clean with a fair number of air changes per hour (4 or 5), I use a simple formula: CADR x 1.5. Let’s look at the CADR parameters of Honeywell HPA 300.
- Smoke 300
- Dust 320
- Pollen 300
According to the formula, this air purifier can service rooms up to 480 square feet. This matches the manufacturer’s information.
You can use the appliance in smaller rooms to achieve excellent results as well. However, if you place it in a large room, the number of air changes per hour will go down, reducing the air quality. For example, in a room, which is about 560 square feet in size, this air purifier will make four air changes per hour. For 750 square feet, it can provide three air changes per hour, and so on.
Operation
Since the air purifier isn’t packed with features and options, it’s easy to operate. All you have to do when the box arrives is to take the unit out, install filters, and plug it in. Just make sure you place the purifier away from obstacles and close all windows and doors for the best results.
Even though this air purifier doesn’t have a remote control, you don’t have to change the settings too often. I recommend running it on the general setting all day long and then switch it to the “germ” setting during the night.
When you use the air purifier according to the instructions, you can start noticing the first results in just several hours. If you have highly contaminated air, you may need to wait for up to 24 hours to feel the difference.
If for some reason, there is a slight foreign smell when the air purifier starts working, don’t worry. It will disappear with time.
Warranty
What I really appreciate about this air purifier is the warranty. Honeywell offers a 5-year warranty, which means the manufacturer is sure of its unit’s quality.
It’s worth noting that the warranty is valid in the USA and Canada only. You can use it if any defects are found in the unit’s materials or workmanship. The warranty doesn’t cover filters.
Be careful, if you try to repair the air purifier on your own, the warranty will be nullified immediately.
Keep your proof of purchase to take advantage of the warranty. Honeywell is a large company with an excellent reputation. It tends to honor all obligations timely.
In my experience, warranty cases occur rarely. Problems with air purifiers usually arise when the owner doesn’t read the manual carefully, fails to clean the unit timely, and doesn’t replace filters regularly.
Pros:- Sleek design
- Easy setup and operation
- Dimmer mode
- Quiet operation
- 5-year warranty
- Reasonable initial and maintenance costs
- Filter replacement indicators for each of the filters
- Tough to move around without caster wheels
- No air quality sensor
Honeywell HPA300 Air Purifier Review Conclusion
After doing an extensive review of this air purifier, I can easily recommend it. It is an excellent choice for homeowners with large rooms (up to 500 square feet). This air purifier has a sleek design and a durable built. Its two-stage filtration system takes care of the majority of the contaminants in any household. A powerful fan coupled with a TrueHEPA and carbon filter can make a difference in the air you breathe in under 24 hours.
The air purifier has a reasonable price tag. The maintenance costs are fairly low as well. If you search for generic filters for replacement, you can reduce the maintenance costs by half. The air purifier comes with a 5-year warranty, which means it’s unlikely to cause you any worries for at least 5 years. I recommend this Honeywell model for home and office use. With the right care and maintenance, it can keep your air clean for many years to come. This appliance is definitely worth the money Honeywell is asking for it.
This article was written by Julia Montague – check out her author bio here