Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There are True HEPA filters and then there are "HEPA Type" or "HEPA-Grade", basically a bogus rating that means nothing. Its like saying a Geo Metro has a Ferrari Type performance. Here are the dirty details on this: A True HEPA filter is rated to filter a minimum of 99.97% of all particles larger than .3 microns. Its a government standard set forth by the Department of Energy (DOE). There is no such thing as maybe, close to, kind of, the standard is set. Now to the total fraud known as "HEPA-TYPE" or "HEPA-Grade" filters. They simply throw in the HEPA name, and then say it filters something totally different than the HEPA standard specifies. People read HEPA, and think that is what it actually is, while its not. On the box, it clearly states that this air purifier filters 99% of particles AS SMALL AS 3.0 microns while a TRUE HEPA filter is 0.3 microns (easy to miss, I know). Note that it filters 99.0% which is 1/100 of a true HEPA filter, and not only that, it filters particles that are 10x larger. So in reality it filters 1% of particles 10x larger than a true HEPA filter does. To get an idea of what its missing, check out the particle chart here: (Google Dust Particle Size Chart, and pick the link from Engineering Toolbox). It is well documented in allergy research that the most harmful particles fall into the .3 to .9 micron size range, well below the 3.0 micron filter capability of this so called "allergen reducing" filter. So anyone wondering why this thing doesn't work particularly well with its "permanent" filter shouldn't be surprised, since you are buying a bogus cleaner with false HEPA logo splashed on the front. Anyone suffering from allergies should look for a TRUE HEPA filter that actually filters 99.97% of particles .3 microns or smaller. Those filters will need to be replaced, but will in many cases last up to a few years. I have used the Sanyo ABC-VW24 and its a TRUE HEPA filter and works great and there are many worthy models out there that will work 100x better than this so called filter. Note that particles in the .3 to .9 micron range are considered to be the biggest health hazard, which is especially critical for allergy sufferers. A True HEPA filter would filter 99.97% of those particles out, while this faux "HEPA-Grade" filter is rated to filter exactly 0% of particles in that size range, as shown on the Hamilton Beach website. Others to consider are some Winix, some Honeywell (although Honeywell also sells some "HEPA TYPE" bogus cleaners) or others. My recommendation is to read the fine print on your air cleaner and stay away from this and similar placebo junk. 01/14/2014 I recently bought a Fellowes AP-300PH and have been pretty impressed with its performance. The Fellowes is made by Winix and there are several models with different types of filter combinations installed. It has been running for over a year already and keeps my living room clean. I have not seen many True HEPA filters worth looking at under $100 except maybe the Holmes HAP726-U which is around $90 for a medium room, but Holmes still pushing its lines of "HEPA-Type" junk in the lower tiers that supposedly removes up to 99% of Tobacco smoke, even though the filters don't go below 3 micron and most Tobacco smoke is under 3 microns to as small as .01 microns. You still for the most part get what you pay for, and the cheap placebo "HEPA-Type" junk is literally just that, junk. Anything you buy under $100 is probably with very few exceptions just a fancy fan with a cheese cloth stuffed inside the box.