Welcome to my review of Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier, more specifically model 04386A. As you will get to see, this is a very unique air purifier that is budget-friendly and effective at the same time! Consequently, this combination gave it “Amazon’s Choice” award, and for good reason. So, as usual, we are going to take a look at the product features first, followed by pros&cons and lastly, I am going to finish off with a short conclusion plus my recommendation.
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier – Features
Despite having a very low price point, Hamilton Beach TrueAir air purifier comes with some pretty unique features. These are:
A permanent, single, and high-performance HEPA filter. This is the main unique selling point of this device. Usually air purifiers come with complex, multi-leveled filtration systems that feature different types of filter. On the other hand, you will only find one HEPA filter in this unit, no more and no less. What is also unique about this filter is that it does not need to be changed at any point. That is right – the filter is permanent, but can be replaced at any time. It is used to remove airborne dust mite debris, animal dander, mold and mildew spores, smoke, pollen and dust from the air. The device is effective for spaces of up to 160 square feet.
Adjustable fan speed (3 levels). You can choose between three different fan speed settings – whisper clean, medium and quick clean. As the name already suggests, whisper clean is the lowest setting which is also the quietest. On the other hand, quick clean is the highest and most powerful setting. This one is used for the best air cleaning results.
Versatile and modern design. The dimensions of this unit are 8.5 x 6 x 13.54 inches, and it weighs a little less than 6 lbs. Its unique design allows you to position it either vertically or horizontally. It works exactly the same, regardless of how you position it.
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier – Pros & Cons
Next, I am going to take a look at what are the positives as well as the negatives of this device. I am also going to provide you with an explanation, so you can get a better understanding.
Pros
Cost-effective filter with low maintenance. Since the HEPA filter in this unit is permanent, you save quite a bit of money on filter replacement. Once you take the device out of the box you are good to go – no need to change or replace the filter at any point. This is quite different and unique than other air purifiers, which require you to change filters or lose effectiveness. As for the cleaning of the permanent filter – it is very easy and fast. You can simply vacuum it or use a small hand broom to clean it.
Very flexible. Since you can place the device either standing or on its side, it is very convenient and easy to place just about anywhere. Not much else to say here, except that this offers a lot of versatility.
Low price. Hamilton Beach TrueAir is a budget-friendly air purifier, costing less than similarly powerful purifiers. This makes it one of the cheaper purifiers on the market, which can still stand its own against purifiers of a higher price point.
Ease of use – this device is very easy to use. You basically plug it, select the fan speed and you are done. The control panel is very basic and simplistic, but that is the beauty of it at the same time. Good for anyone looking for an air purifier that is very hands-free or plug-and-forget type.
Cons
HEPA filter is not true HEPA. One of the main reasons why filters need to be replaced every few months is because they do degrade and lose effectiveness over time. So I believe that the claim of a permanent filter that does not lose any effectiveness over time …is perhaps not entirely accurate. Despite that, you should still change the filter once it gets a little bit too dirty. I could also find no information on the grade of the filter, indicating that it is not the most powerful one. As a result, you can not realistically expect results as good as other air purifiers that use the highest grade true HEPA filters.
Not effective against odors and smells. Many air purifiers include a special type of filters in their overall filtration system – activated carbon filter. This type of filter has a very specific role – it removes smell and odors. The Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier does not include this type of filter, so you can not expect it to help you remove odors and smells very much.
Can be a bit loud. Some users report loud fan noise while on max fan speed setting. While the company does not specifically state how much noise it generates, I do estimate it to be around 50 decibels (dB). This means that you can have trouble falling asleep if you have the device in your bedroom at night, on max fan speed.
Here is a short summary of this section:
Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier review- conclusion
Make no mistakes – despite some big perceived negatives, Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air purifier is still a very solid choice. Obviously, you can not expect it to be as effective as other, more expensive air purifiers that use more powerful filtration systems. Despite all that, I believe that this unit is amazing for someone just starting out. If you know nothing about air purifiers and just want a very affordable device that will clean the air around you- then Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air purifier is a perfect choice. The ease of use, high flexibility, and a decently powerful HEPA filter ensure this to be a great bang for your buck.
The negatives of this device are generally nothing to worry about, if you intend to use it for reasons I described in the paragraph above. I only truly miss an indication light that would let you know when it is time to clean the filter. When it comes to a beginner air purifier – the simpler the better. Also keep in mind that while Hamilton Beach TrueAir purifier is effective in rooms of up to 160 square feet, I would recommend using it in slightly smaller rooms, especially on low/medium fan speed settings.
To summarize – Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air purifier is a great choice if you are looking for your first effective and cheap air purifier. It might need a little bit longer to clean the air, but in the end it does its job. And it does it well. The permanent filter will ensure that you have no additional costs or headaches with replacements. A simple control panel with minimal functions makes this device pretty much “plugin, set and forget” type.
I hope you enjoyed and found value in this review. Latest price and availability:
