Clean Air = Healthy Air: Fellowes Air Purifier Review

My allergies have been a problem for as long as I can remember. In fact in high school, one Christmas my “big” gift was an air purifier for my bedroom. I know that sounds silly, but my asthma had been so bad that year and I remember my dad was so excited to give it to me. The only problem is that while it was a top-of-the-line purifier in its day it was so loud and pumped out so much air it felt like I was sleeping in a wind tunnel.

That purifier was returned to the store within a week. I can’t remember what I got to replace it, but I still remember the sentiment behind the gift.

Since then I have had smaller air purifiers that worked pretty well. I ran one full time in my apartment in college. But my last one died a while ago, and I haven’t gotten around to replacing it. So when I was asked to try out the super-duper fancy Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter (AP-300PH) I was excited to test it out, but I wondered if I was welcoming a new wind tunnel into my house.

Luckily, I was not.

The Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier is actually (gasp) quiet. It isn’t silent by any means, but it is quiet. And best of all, no wind tunnel. You have to actually put your hand right over the unit to even realize that it is pushing out clean air on the low mode. It makes a low droning noise that sounds like a vacuum cleaner at work on the other side of the house, through a shut door. The sound is soft enough that within a couple of days my husband said he didn’t even notice it was on any more. I have super bionic hearing, so I still hear it all of the time. But it is very quite.

I am a big fan (pun intended) of the auto setting on the purifier. By leaving it on auto, most of the time it stays on the lowest setting. But every once in a while we can hear it rev up to do some extra cleaning.

I have to stop here and tell you a funny story. I apologise in advance for embarrassing my wonderful and awesome husband.

The big question is always, “How do you know your air purifier is working.” Well, we know. The first week we had the purifier in the house, my husband walked by it and accidentally… well, ummm… he tooted. (I love you honey!) The moment he did, the air purifier revved up to cleanse the air! I laughed so hard, I started crying.

After a minute or two, the purifier slowed back down again and the air was refreshed. 🙂

As far as how my allergies and asthma are doing with the purifier in place, it is hard to tell. Summer is generally the easiest month for me, health wise. My worst months are October/November and then again in the spring – that’s when my asthma really gets going. Since I haven’t had a flare up all summer, I can’t say for sure how the purifier is doing. But with a HEPA filter, a carbon filter and PlasmaTrue™ Technology cleaning the air, I have to think it will help at night. (Especially since I know it is cleaning the air!)

The Fellowes air purifier has been running 24-7 in our house for about two weeks now. I took the cover off to inspect the filter today and can already see a layer of dust (and long hair) on the filter. That has to be a good sign for my allergies since I am also very allergic to dust mites.

If you are in the market for an air purifier, I have good news. This macdaddy of a purifier is currently on sale! Normally listed on Amazon for $359.99, the Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter (AP-300PH) is currently $119.99. Since I have looked at buying a new purifier a number of times, I can assure you this is a great price for a heavy-duty purifier.

While it isn’t the most exciting Christmas gift ever, if you are an allergy sufferer it is a beautiful thing to find under the tree.

Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Fellowes and received a product sample to facilitate my review.