Reviews on Honeywell 50300 Air Purifier An excellent value in HEPA purifiers

Honeywell 50300 Air Purifier Product MPNMPN:50300 Key FeaturesFilter Change Indicator:With Replace Filter IndicatorHEPA Filter:With HEPA Filt...

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The 50300 series is the largest in ’s current line-up and is the only one worth considering for most applications. The sheer size has numerous advantages that make it better than smaller HEPA units and (in my opinion) better than electrostatic precipitators (non-filter, charged collector plate types).

Pre-filter

I replace the pre-filter in 3 month intervals because of the odor eliminating properties. The charcoal pre-filter has such a large surface area, it actually looks clean at the replacement intervals.

The more common (and much smaller) tabletop HEPA devices will look filthy at their replacement intervals and create an illusion of effectiveness. Perhaps this is why manufacturers aggressively market the smaller ones.

Replacing the pre-filter is a nuisance because they come in one size and are cut to fit. There are perforations at different heights that act as cutting guides. Removing the old pre-filter also kicks up some dust, so I do it outside.

Save the velcro tabs from the old filter and re-use them together with the new ones. Reinstalling the filter assembly is much easier when there’s four, evenly spaced velcro tabs holding the pre-filter closed.

HEPA element

The HEPA element is about as big as a five gallon bucket. The densely packed pleats are over two inches deep and have rubbery seals on the top and bottom. Filter life is excellent with such a huge surface area.

All of mine have been running 24/7 for the past two years and the filter checks indicate less than 1/4 of the life consumed on all of them. At this rate, the first replacement HEPA filters might outlast the machines themselves. Smaller units will demand more frequent HEPA filter replacements and will end up costing more.

With such a large filter, the blower can be spun slower and still maintain good airflow. HEPA filters have high static pressure and smaller units that spin the blower faster make a lot more noise for modest increases in airflow.

Design Build quality

The design is simple and very clever. There’s a blower and motor inside a cylindrical HEPA element but the way they’re arranged ensures the entire filter loads up evenly. The air path has no turns and the circular vent at the top is an efficient diffuser.

The flimsy plastic construction is suspect. Picking it up by the handle causes minor deformation of the lid along with squeaking and creaking noises. I purchased eight of these and spread them evenly throughout my house. Two developed a very quiet squealing noise after a year (dry bearings?). The older, discontinued models were very solid but quite a bit heavier.

Better than electronic cleaners

Initially, I had used the top rated C90A before going the HEPA route. I made a few discoveries along the way.

Unlike mechanical impingement filters (like HEPA), electronic/electrostatic precipitators become less efficient as the charged plates load up. Once they’re dirty, they start behaving like useless ionizers and dirt passes through the cell and starts sticking to surfaces around the purifier. Frequent cleanings with these machines is an absolute must. That’s the catch.

Cleaning the plates is a chore because the dirt never comes off by merely hosing or soaking with cleaners. It’s hard to get between the plates so I use a flat, bottle sponge (the ones that come with wooden handles). You heard it here first, that’s the magic tool to clean these with.

Without these extraordinary cleaning measures, the dirt builds up and hardens, eventually requiring cell replacement. Breaking one of the charging wires while cleaning will also require cell replacement. It’s a lose-lose situation.

This collosal inconvenience is evidenced by the number of “almost new” units that constantly show up on a certain online auction site.

If you’ve ever accidentally unplugged an electronic cleaner, shine a bright light at the exhaust vent and turn it back on. For a few minutes, it spews out a steady stream of dust because some of the particles lose their charge and break free from the collection plates.

I vacuum my house daily (with a good HEPA vacuum) and accidentally unplugging it is a relatively frequent occurrence.

HEPA suffers none of these problems and the safety margin of reduced airflow instead of outright spewing dirt back out is a pretty strong argument in HEPA’s favor.

Some final thoughts

’s HEPA filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to find at department stores and home improvement centers. The same can’t be said for some of the more esoteric brands.

Electrostatic precipitators look good on paper (and in infomercials). In practice, they’re only good for industrial processes that they were initially developed for (in situations where disposable filters wouldn’t make sense).

The sheer hassle of frequently cleaning the inaccessible space between the collection plates makes them impractical for home use.

HEPA’s only disadvantages are noise and slightly higher operating costs. This gigantic model might well eliminate the last few justifications for using electrostatic precipitators for home use altogether.

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