I have questions about my warranty/guarantee.
Austin Air's commitment to you: the best warranty in the industry. Click here for warranty & guarantee information.
What approvals and testing do Austin Air purifiers pass?
All Austin Air products are CSA/NRTL approved. Austin Air products have also been tested at Battelle Laboratories and the U.S. Army corps of Engineers' Aberdeen Test Center.
Where should I place my purifier?
As long as your purifier is at least 4 inches from the wall, you can place it anywhere. We recommend you put it in your bedroom. The average person spends 30% of her life in the bedroom! As you sleep, your body regenerates and gets rid of contaminants; breathing clean air helps you do this, without giving your body extra work.
How much air does my purifier effectively clean?
Standard-size units can clean an average bedroom in about 15 minutes, and up to 1500 square feet in about an hour. Junior-size units can clean an average bedroom in about 25 minutes, and up to 700 square feet in about an hour. (These measurements assume 8-foot ceilings with the doors closed.)
Can I leave my purifier on all the time?
Yes! Your purifier was designed and built for continuous use.
Does my purifier produce any harmful substances?
No! Unlike electrostatic precipitators or ionic generators, Austin's Air cleaners do not produce ozone, ions, or negative ions. Your purifier produces nothing but clean air.
Will my purifier be noisy?
Austin Air purifiers are among the quietest on the market. Depending on the fan setting, decibel levels range from less than 50 to 65. That's approximately the sound of a whisper to the sound of a normal conversation.
How do I maintain my purifier?
Just vacuum the sides of your purifier about once a month, using the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner. That's it!
How much electricity does my purifier use?
You can plug your purifier into an ordinary 120 volt outlet. At the highest fan setting, it draws about 135 watts, less than 1 cent per hour.
What contaminants do Austin Air purifiers clean from the air?
○ Dust
○ Mold
○ Pollen
○ Tobacco smoke
○ Chemical vapors
○ Gases
○ Viruses
○ Bacteria
Why isn't there an indicator light showing when to replace the filter?
Adding indicator lights would add a lot to the cost of the unit--and the light would only come on once every 5 years for the main filters!
Why might my main filter last less than 5 years?
If you're using your purifier in an area with lots of pets, new carpet, heavy indoor smoking, paint fumes, urban pollution, in a photo studio, or in similar environments, your filter may fill up faster. If it does, Austin Air's pro-rate filter guarantee (link) has you covered-- Austin Air will discount the cost of the new filter based on your usage.
How do I know when to replace my filters?
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Main filter: Austin Air recommends that you replace your main filter once every five years.
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Permafilt pre-filter: Austin Air recommends that you replace your pre-filter every 1 - 2 years. In the meantime, you can vacuum it about once a month to extend its life, either from the outside of the unit or after taking it out of the unit. You can also wash it in gentle detergent in your sink or bathtub.
If you're using your purifier in a heavily polluted area, you may need to replace it sooner:
1. Does your unit smell unpleasant?
2. Is there significantly lower airflow?
If you answered "yes" to either of these, it's time to replace your filter.
Note: All orders of main filters will include a Permafilt pre-filter.
Which end of the filter goes in first?
The end labeled "Top/Motor side" goes in label-side down (when your unit is upside-down to change the filter). Both filter ends have rubber sealing gaskets around them; one gasket is very close to the inner edge of the end cap, and the other is closer to the center. The end with the gasket that is closer to the center is the end that goes in farthest from the motor.
Which filter fits my machine?
If your unit was made prior to 1996, it will require the HEGA filter - HEGA, an Austin Air exclusive, stands for High Efficiency Gas Absorption. It is also called Military Carbon Cloth.
What is a HEPA filter?
The HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter was developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to filter out sub-micron particles. All True Medical HEPA filters are laser-tested and must remove a minimum of 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than 0.3 microns in size. A human hair is about 300 times too large to penetrate a HEPA filter.
What is a HEGA filter?
HEGA is unique to Austin Air and stands for High Efficiency Gas Adsorption. A HEGA air cleaner combines a HEPA filtration system with an added military carbon cloth filter medium.
How many square feet of HEPA filter does each unit have?
Standard-size models have 60 square feet, and Junior-size models have 30 square feet.
What is the CFM rate?
The CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is the measurement of how much air passes through the unit. For standard-size units, fan CFM is 400 on high and 75 on low. For Junior-size units, fan CFM is 200 on high and 50 on low.
What is the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate)?
Austin Air doesn't publish a CADR. CADR does not measure how clean the air is. To calculate CADR, multiply the airflow by the filtration efficiency. Using this formula, a purifier with a flow rate of 200 cfm and a 50% efficient filter has a CADR of 100; but a purifier with a flow rate of 100 cfm and a filter efficiency of 100% will also have a CADR rate of 100. While both machines have the same CADR , the second one is the better air cleaner.
What is zeolite?
Zeolite is a natural mineral that has the distinct capability of adsorbing certain gas molecules. Zeolite is particularly effective in adsorbing formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide.
What is activated carbon?
Activated carbon is effective at removing gas molecules and odors. Activated carbon is the most common element in military gas masks. The most common method of activating carbon is a two-stage steaming process, which enlarges the carbon's surface pore size. This in turn produces a more accessible internal surface area, allowing for greater odor and gas adsorption.
What is the mixture ratio of carbon to zeolite in the HealthMate™?
Approximately 10-1 (10 parts carbon, 1 part zeolite).
What is the pre-filter made of?
The pre-filter or Permafilt is made of cotton.
Does the air cleaner have any plastic parts?
The only plastic components in the air cleaner are the fan blade, wheels or feet, and the control knob on the front of the unit.
Is the motor varnished?
No.
Would my Austin Air purifier help in the removal of Radon should a nuclear situation occur?
Austin Air purifiers do NOT remove radon gas from the air. However, radon gas does affect airborne particles, creating what are know as Radon daughters. Austin Air purifiers will remove Radon daughters from the air.
