| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Price | $91.19 |
| CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) rating | 130 |
| HEPA Filter? | Yes |
| Energy Star certified? | No |
| Area coverage | 168 square feet |
| Dimensions | 16 x 13 x 17 inches |
Despite it’s name, the QuietAir isn’t the quietest purifier on the market. But it’s not loud by any stretch, and the machine offers strong value and performance for its price.
Read the full review below.
- Inexpensive; strong value
- Works well for small to medium bedrooms
- Not all that powerful
- Not equipped to handle larger spaces
- Not particularly stylish or energy efficient
FULL REVIEW:
Honeywell air purifiers are the best-known brand on the market and, wouldn’t you know it, this particular purifier has been one of the top sellers on Amazon for over 10 years. Let’s see what the QuietAir 17000-S has to offer.
Noise Level
The first question I want to ask: does the QuietAir live up to its name? Meaning, is it quiet?
Well, it’s not that quiet. On it’s lowest setting, it emits a soft “white noise” that is audible, but it’s quiet enough that you could comfortably sleep through it. The medium and high settings are progressively louder, which is to be expected with any purifier – the harder it works, the louder it gets.
On its highest setting the QuietAir 17000-S makes a noticeable level of noise, to the point that the machine may cause problems if used in bedrooms. The good news is, barring horrendous air quality, you’re not likely to have to use the highest setting when the unit is placed in a bedroom – it can tackle smaller rooms on lower settings without much problem.
Performance
Okay, brass tax: how does the QuietAir 17000-S perform? With a CADR of 130, this isn’t the most powerful purifier you’ll see. Its effective in small or medium-sized bedrooms, but this unit won’t perform all that well in larger rooms. For less than $100, that’s exactly what you should expect.
The manufacturer says the area coverage of the device is 168 square feet; TrueBreeze thinks the device can be used effectively in rooms up to 225 square feet, but anything past that and you may want to invest in a different purifier.
The QuietAir utilized HEPA filters, so the unit deals well with even the smallest particulates and allergens. But it also has a charcoal pre-filter to deal with odors and other stuff like pet hair. The pre-filter is very effective in small rooms, and the HEPA is as reliable as ever.
Design and Energy Efficiency
The Quiet Air 17000-S isn’t a total eyesore, but it’s not the prettiest purifier to look at. It’s fairly old-fashioned and simple – white and clunky, but small and portable. It has a nifty handle on the top for easy carrying, and at 11 pounds this purifier is pretty light.
This purifier won’t kill your electric bill, but it’s not especially energy efficient. At its lowest setting, expect the 17000-S to draw about 50 W of power. It can draw up to 170W on its highest setting – not an unreasonable rate of energy usage, but the costs will add up if you run the device often.
As far as maintenance, the device is fairly simple. You’ll have to clean the pre-filter every few weeks or months, depending on how often you run the purifier. Likewise, you’ll be best served replacing the HEPA filter every year or so. You could hold out longer, but the unit will likely become louder and less effective the longer you wait.
