Portable Air Purifier: The Little Engine That Could

Amaircare Roomaid Portable Air Purifiers: $129.95 to $149.95

Optional Carbon & Zeolite VOC Canister $19.95 to$22.95

Replacement Portable HEPA Filter: $65.95

Annual Filter Kit: $21.95 (2 - Foam pre-filters, 3 - Activated-carbon air filters)

Auto Adapter Kit: $22.95

The compact Roomaid portable air purifier is the smallest HEPA portable filter with carbon that can be taken seriously. While too small for consideration as a household air cleaner, the Roomaid mini-purifiers are ideal for the car and travel.

Photos can be deceiving as to size: the Roomaids are tiny air purifiers. Only eight inches in diameter, they are not really "room" air purifiers, but are perfect for commuting and office use. Sized to fit in a gym bag or just be carried, the small air cleaner weighs only five pounds.

There are few Roomaid HEPA reviews available: AllergyBuyersClub.com tested and sells it.

Meeting their high standards is an important endorsement. Made of 24 gauge rolled steel by a Canadian company which makes a complete line of room, whole house, and commercial air cleaners, the portable HEPA Roomaid air purifier is quality.

AllergyBuyersClub called the two-speed Roomaid portable air purifiers "nicely quiet" which is believable since the little HEPA air purifier pushes air at just 40 cubic feet per minute (cfm) on high.

This is not much air volume for room use, but adequate for use in mid-size cars to 140 cubic feet interior space. This is more air volume than all but a few portables, which top out around 80 cfm air flow.

Amaircare has not had their products certified by the American Home Appliance Manufacturers Association (AHAM), so no Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) numbers are available.

I think I can, I think I can.

I estimate the roomaides' air filtration efficiency at around 90% overall, which would produce an approximate CADR of 36. For comparison, the $30 Holmes HAP240 air purifier has average CADR's around 63. The point here is not a product comparison to a less expensive air cleaner, but that consumers should have reasonable expectations for a portable.

The manufacturer rates the Roomaid HEPA portable air purifier for rooms of 75 to 150 square feet, with four air changes per hour (ach) in the smaller room. Four air changes is a minimum, and 75 sq. ft. the maximum, in my humble opinion. I have seen vendors pumping these figures to "cleans air in 300 Sq. Ft." No way.

Roomaid Portable Air Cleaners: Sealed and Gasketed

Top and bottom seals prevent leaking (bypassing air) which assures high efficiency. This is the mark of quality in air purifiers.

Once the pins are aligned pressing firmly locks the HEPA cartridge to the base.

There is a big circular rubber gasket under the bottom which has the appearance of a heavy duty automotive application.

I would prefer bolts or screws, but Amaircare's snap-lock pins do assure an air tight seal.

Roomaid three-stage HEPA filtration begins with a unique prefilter which slips over the round air cleaner like a stocking cap.

Made of 1/8" thick foam blanket, the pre-filter is machine washable. Just slip it off, no cover to remove, and throw it in the wash.

The portable air purifier ships with two prefilters so one can be in the wash without disrupting service. This allows the washed prefilter to dry thoroughly before use.

Depending on use, the pre-filter removes larger particles for three to twelve months before replacement.

The HEPA filter element is more exposed than any I have seen, but a screen surrounds and protects it.

Make sure no water gets inside the filters or the motor/fan housing. Roomaid has a real portable HEPA: 19 sq. ft. of 3000 grade borosilicate filter media performing at true-HEPA spec (99.97% at .3 micron size).

HEPA filter life is projected at two to five years, depending on smoking vs. non-smoking user.

The portable Roomaid air purifier's third stage is an inner carbon blanket wrapped inside the HEPA.

I recommend the optional, but inexpensive, VOC canister in place of the carbon blanket.

While diesel exhaust is smelly and easily visible, auto emissions have been toned down to where they seem "harmless."

They are not! The extra $20 for the carbon VOC-cleaning cartridge seems more than warranted.

Two types of VOC canisters are offered; 100% Carbon, and or Carbon-Zeolite mix for a broader range of chemical removal.

Remember Zeolite must be kept dry. I have read of the Roomaid performing well in kitchens. I wouldn't buy the Zeolite option to adsorb odors in damp bathrooms.

Estimated VOC filter life is 8 to 12 months: I'd round it down to six.

The "optional" activated carbon inner filter is ideal for auto and diesel exhaust emissions.

Assuming two $20 carbon VOC cartridges annually, a three year HEPA life, and two prefilters, I get annual Roomaid filter costs around $80. Drawing less than five watts electricity, Roomaid portable hepa filter runs for almost nothing.

Aromatherapy: "nose candy"

Aromatherapy has become fashionable in recent years, with annual sales growth in double digits.

But the industry lacks regulation and consumers are not advised of potential side effects. Essential oils can be dangerous if misused.

Even a perfectly harmless substance should not be diffused in microscopic droplets and inhaled. Topical application, rubbing on selected areas of skin, is the better method.

Amaircare has chosen to include an aromatherapy dispenser with available scent packets and Odortec odor-destroying packets on the Roomaid portable. They do warn those with severe asthma or allergies not to use the packets.

I strongly discourage the use of any and all odor-masking sprays, scents, strips, and dispensers.

We find certain smells disagreeable for a reason! To mask odors is symptom blocking, which delays or avoids the real solution: odor source removal.

Why does an otherwise reputable manufacturer not recognize the mistake of adding this feature to a quality air purifier?

This is the triumph of marketing over engineering. The budget could have been used for a filter monitor, electronic interface, or other useful feature.

This air purifier uses a down flow design with 360 degrees intake and 330 degree outflow from the base.

The only outsourced part is a 12 Volt direct current German-made motor designed for continuous operation. Run tested for 35,000 hours, the motor is warranted longer than other components.

The small air cleaner comes with a 110 volt alternating current wall adapter, a step-down transformer to 12 volts DC. I think DC is safer in the Electromagnetic Field (EMF) area, I'd rather not have alternating electrical fields flashing through my air 60 times a second.

For use in a car, the optional cigarette lighter plug connects to the car's 12 volt. A 7 ft. cord and seatbelt clip complete the $26 car kit.

The motor is warranted for 5 years; other parts have a 1 year warranty. Filters are excluded. The manufacturer has wisely established a worldwide network of dealers, perhaps in recognition of the coming globalization of what is currently a regional industry.

Roomaid HEPA air purifiers are too small for all but tiny rooms, but perfectly portable for cars with interior volumes around 100 to 140 cubic feet. 40 cfm might seem like overkill with an air change 20 times an hour, but polluted air flows through a moving car more quickly.

Air-Purifier-Power Rating

Each 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: 7 of 10, points off for "aromatherapy" marketing ploy.

2. Serious gas and odor removal is a requirement if health benefits are expected: Air cleaners with real carbon VOC capability rank higher.

Score: 5 of 10, add "optional" carbon VOC filter for an 8.

3. Quality construction; case, gaskets, seals, and precision fitting eliminate bypassing and assure true HEPA efficiency at filtering sub-micron particles.

Score: 9 of 10, best build for small air filter.

4. The design maximizes the lifespan of each filter stage by allowing independent filter replacement. Ideally this is combined with electronic monitoring of filters.

Score: 7 of 10.

5. Unit has long filter life, low maintenance requirements, and reasonable operating costs.

Score: 8 of 10.

6. Purifier produces low noise levels and meaningful air flow rates relative to noise.

Score: 7 of 10, quiet, but low 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: 7 of 10, 5-year warranty only covers motor.

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: 6 of 10, specialty item, not cheap.

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.

10. Unit is stylish, portable, comfortable, and convenientfor consumer use.

Score: 8 of 10.

Air-Purifier-Power Numeric Rating;72, (75 with VOC cartridge), a good portable.

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