New Air Purifier: Alen A375uvAlen A-375uv "Ultra" HEPA Air Purifier $499.99 BF25 Filter (fits A350 and A375): $69.00 A375UV Replacement UV Lamps: 2@$69 April, 2007 Alen Corp., pronounced "Allen", has based its reputation on customer service, so frequently missing in the air purifier industry. Alen A375uv is an upgrade to the company's A350 air purifier. The "375", based on the same platform as the 350, has added two ultraviolet (UV) lamps and a titanium dioxide photo catalytic post filter for chemical and biological pollutant control. The two look alike, but the 375 has dropped the 350's "outer space blue" front cover, and is all white. Increased utilization of electronics in the user interface round out a modern product offering, somewhat unusual for a US based company. When I reviewed the older Alen a350, I noted a couple areas where improvements were needed: automated controls and chemical removal capability. With the A375uv, Alen has answered some of my criticisms. This is relatively low volume product, so information beyond the standard manufacturers' marketing brochure is scarce. At air-purifiers-america.com the A-375uv is on the top 10 recommendations list. There seven mixed customer reviews at amazon.com. (Note: opens in a new window, not an affiliate link, no business relationship with Amazon.) Like its stable mates, A-375 is good at dust and pollen removal. In tests at Air-purifiers-america.com the Alens consistently scored well, with particle removal percentages in the upper nineties. Inexpensive to Maintain.
The one-piece Pre-filter, HEPA Filter and carbon filter makes filter changes tool free and easy. The integrated pre-filter can be removed, vacuumed and washed. Combined filters would normally raise an cost issue, but the warranty-required 6 month change interval would cost around $100 annually. That makes the air cleaner inexpensive to own. The cost of uv bulb replacements, adding $60 a year, should not be overlooked. A375uv: Tech SophisticationWhat distinguishes the A375 from the other Alens is technology. Added electronics include; remote-control operation, a filter replacement indicator (4,000 hour timer), dust and odor sensors which automatically regulate fan speed, and auto-off protection when the front cover is removed or misaligned. I rant continuously about the benefits of automated sensor driven operation; lowered expenses, quiet operation, effective cleaning when needed, energy efficiency... Electronics include a digital display with simple button controls, filter change indicator, 4 fan speeds, and a 12 hour timer. One little known high tech feature of A375uv is the Photo Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) grid installed aft of the ultraviolet lamps. Rather than expensive carbon filters, Alen has added a permanent titanium dioxide (TiO2) grid to oxidize volatile organic chemical (VOC) pollutants. This grid never needs replacing, as long as the uv bulbs are replaced at least annually, it keeps working. PCO is covered in detail under the technology section of this site. see Photo catalytic technology explained UV-C lamps and titanium dioxide grid are placed deep inside the chassis to prevent eye exposure to uv rays. Alen has conducted in-house testing on a VOC mixture of formaldehyde, xylene and benzene. Concentrations of these three toxins were substantially lower after a four hour test. The A-375uv has a built-in Ionizer that can be manually turned off, and the company asserts it is ozone free. One user at Amazon, linked above, complained of an ozone smell. Alen air purifier noise levels are about average: 36 dB(A)on low, 65dB(A)@214cfm on high. 65dB(A) is not the loudest, but 214cfm is pretty weak for that much sound. Mid-poweredRecommended room size is up to 800 square feet, with 400 square feet to achieve at least 4 air changes per hour. As usual we will deflate this size quote. Alen did not participate in costly CADR testing, so we'll use their room size rating to estimate air flow. 400 square feet in 8 foot ceilings is 3200 cubic feet, multiply by 4 air changes hourly equals 12800 cubic feet per hour. Dividing by 60 minutes/hr gives 214 cubic feet per minute. So estimated CADR (for ball-park figure comparison to similarly-priced mass market units with some chemical filtering capacity) is 203. I recommend at least six air changes per hour, which would size the Alen A375uv at 268 square feet, still a good sized room. The A-375’s compact design measures 18.5” x 8.23” x 17.48.” A375 ultra uv is wall-mountable and weighs 3 lbs more than the chassis sharing 16 pound A350 Alen. At $499, this is not a cheap machine, and vendors are holding the line on price. The predecessor a350 model has occasionally been subject to discount sales, but these sell out quickly.
Alen Corporation (formerly Alen Technologies Inc.), headquartered in Dunedin, Florida, drop ships units ordered on the web. The company promises 95% of orders will be shipped within 24 hours, and has a hassle free return policy.
Lifetime Warranty!A375 Alen includes the industry’s first, and only, Lifetime Warranty coverage. "Alen warrants your Alen Air Purifier to be free from defects in material or workmanship for as long as you own your air purifier. Alen will repair or replace defective a375s and pay freight costs of shipping the replacement unit. RatingEach of ten factors gets up to 10 points, 100 is perfect and very unlikely. 1. First do no harm; minimal out gassing, no ozone. Score: 9 of 10, Company asserts air cleaner is ozone-free 2. Serious gas and odor removal is a requirement if health benefits are expected: Units with real carbon VOC capability rank higher. Score: 8 of 10, added photo-oxidation of airborne chemicals. 3. Quality construction; case, gaskets, seals, and precision fitting eliminate bypassing and assure high efficiency at filtering sub-micron particles. Score: 10 of 10, evidence of tight design from Air-Purifiers-America. 4. The design maximizes the lifespan of each filter stage by allowing independent filter replacement. Ideally this is combined with electronic filter monitoring. Score: 8 of 10, combined filter is inexpensive to replace. 5. Unit has long filter life, low maintenance requirements, and reasonable operating costs.
Score: 9 of 10, cheap to operate. 6. Purifier produces low noise levels and meaningful air flow rates relative to noise. Score: 8 of 10, about average on noise. 7. Manufacturer has a track record, with many units in the field and a reputation for supporting what they sell. Warranty period and average service life are long. Score: 8 of 10, newer company, super warranty. 8. Purifier is a value in terms of price/performance ratio. Every price range should be included, “models above $1,200 are best”, while true, is not useful to most consumers. Score: 8 of 10, price is high, but reflects lifetime guarantee. 9. No dirt; unit and manufacturer should be devoid of class-action suits, high returns, recalls, consumer complaints, and legitimate negative consumer reviews. Score: 9 of 10,
10. Unit is stylish, portable, comfortable, and convenientfor consumer use. Score: 9 of 10, easy automatic interface, convenient wall mount for tight spaces. Air-Purifier-Power Rating; 86
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