Honeywell 18155 ReviewHoneywell 18155 air purifier $125.99 to $169.95 The 18155 by Honeywell is an economical, but mid powered, particle filter. 18155s are members of the 14-inch round filter family of Honeywells. With clean air delivery rates (CADR) of 150 dust, 150 smoke, 135 pollen, and an AHAM bestowed 230 square foot room rating, the little honey is a bit over-rated. Consumer Reports rated the 18155 as "fair" and "poor" for high speed and low speed dust and smoke removal, ranking it number 22 of 30. This air cleaner is advertised as providing 6 air changes per hour in an 11' x 17' room. That's 187 sq. ft., down some from the 230 awarded by AHAM during the CADR certification. Room size ratings, based on continuous high speed operation, are a sure disappointment for consumers. These machines are not quiet enough to run on high with human activity, especially sleeping, in the room. I recommend the 18155 for 144 sq. ft. rooms, a medium 12 x 12 bedroom, at the most. The standard carbon impregnated polyester wrap-around prefilter (#38002, $12.00) can easily be washed or merely vacuumed without removal. I use these on my round Honeywells until they fall apart, over a year. They provide only modest odor, and very little toxic chemical, removal when new. New 18155s have the "lifetime" HEPA glass fiber air filters advertised as never needing replacement. Otherwise, they are identical to 18150. The new filters are sturdy enough for repeated vacuumings. Some users report needing to replace these anyway. The cause of this may be the natural poor sealing of the wrap around prefilter. This is secured by velcro strips which can be too loosely fastened. After repeated washings, the prefilters shrink, allowing gaps along the edges. Large airborne dust, insect fragments, and hairs enter and clog the filter. I use scotch tape to seal the prefilter edges to the round Honeywell filters. Then I just vac gingerly. This extends prefilter life and protects the HEPA from deep penetration by large fragments. A filter timer, with light, reminds users when to vac the Honeywell 18155's filters.
The main strength of the round Honeywells is the "SurroundSeal", which employs as automotive air filter type rubber seal. A very strong bolt and tightening handle lock the air purifier so very little airflow gets around the filter. Honeywell 18155 shares this arrangement with the 50250, see photos in that review. I have seen a user forum report of baking soda, used to clean carpets, coming through a 14 inch Honeywell.This is possible only if the handle is not kept tightly sealed, or if the filter has been vacuumed too aggressively. The newest models have "Germ Reducing" filters. Three manually controlled fan speeds provide settings for noise reduction. Unfortunately the manufacturer has chosen not to publish actual decibel noise readings. Honeywell HEPA air purifiers are seldom the quietest. Consumer Reports rated the 18155 as good and very good for high speed andlow speed noise respectively. Like many lower cost HEPAs, Honeywell 18155s have filter cost problems.The $13 to $15 prefilters alone, if changed every 3 months as recommended, add up to the initial purchase price of the air purifier in a bit more than 2 years. Lifetime is a filter manufacturer, not a guarantee. At 17" by 18" by 16", weighing 21 pounds, the Honeywell 18155 is still portable enough to move upstairs. A 5 year limited warranty is longer than many in this price range. I like the more powerful models from this company, which cost just a few dollars more. Buyers should consider 50250, and avoid paying the upper end of the price range for 18155. Air Purifier Rating CriteriaEach 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. 2. Serious gas and odor removal is a requirement if health benefits are expected: Units with real carbon VOC capability rank higher. Score: 6 of 10, carbon not. 3. Quality construction; case, gaskets, seals, and precision fitting eliminate bypassing and assure high efficiency at filtering sub-micron particles. Score: 9 of 10, well gasketed and sealed. 4. The design maximizes the lifespan of each filter stage by allowing independent filter replacement. Ideally this is combined with electronic filter monitoring. Score: 9 of 10, filter monitor a timer. 5. Unit has long filter life, low maintenance requirements, and reasonable operating costs. Score: 9 of 10, jury still out on lifetime filter. 6. Purifier produces low noise levels and meaningful air flow rates relative to noise. Score: 6 of 10, loud relative to airflow. 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: 9 of 10, 5-year 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, less powerful round Honeywells offer lower value. 9. No dirt; unit and manufacturer should be devoid of class-action suits, high returns, recalls, consumer complaints, and legitimate negative consumer reviews. Score: 8 of 10, manufacturer not air quality specific 10. Unit is stylish, portable, comfortable, and convenient for consumer use. Score: 7 of 10, no remote, manual interface. Honeywell 18155 Numeric Rating; 79End Honeywell 18155 Review, Go to top of page
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