Amaircare XR-100 Portable Auto Air Purifier

I bought one of these tiny air purifiers in December, 2008, and I've used it many times for travel, and a couple of times in my house as backup when one of my larger air purifiers wasn't working fast enough to suit me when some kind of chemical smell was in the house. I am very sensitive to chemicals (AKA volatile organic compounds or VOC's), from pesticides to paint to cleansers like bleach and ammonia. This little machine is great at clearing them out of the air. It is also excellent for its intended purpose for clean air in your car during a commute where you are breathing in smog and car exhaust. I find it strong enough to purify the air in an entire motel room, which is what I primarily use it for since it is small enough that I can easily pack it in a carry-on suitcase.

I am in the process of buying another one of these air purifiers because just last night the little "male" prong inside the "outlet" on the machine where the "female" AC adapter plugs into the body of the machine broke off and fell inside the housing of the machine. The Amaircare XR-100 has a five-year limited warranty on the motor and fan--which were not broken on my machine--but not on this small crucial part, so the machine is kaput. This situation, however, did not aggravate me enough to not want to replace this air purifier, because I have come to strongly rely on its excellent work to keep the air clean when I travel.

Here are the specifications of this portable air purifier:

Square Foot Coverage: up to 300 cubic feet

Power Requirements: 110/115V AC, 12V DC

Delivered Air Flow: 20 cubic feet per minute

Dimensions: 8" Depth x 3.5" Height

Weight: 2.1 lbs.

Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on the motor and fan.

Energy Consumption: 4.5 watts with AC adapter. Note: This comes with an adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter of your car. If you want an AC adapter that plugs into a wall outlet, that is sold separately and usually costs about $22-$35. I own another small air purifier by the same company, the Amaircare Roomaid Portable HEPA Air Cleaner, and its AC adapter is interchangeable with the one I got for this device.

This is a three-stage portable air-purification system:

Stage 1: Activated carbon captures large particulates and odors.

Stage 2: Electret charged media captures sub-micron particles such as dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, and bacteria.

Stage 3: Zeolite VOC filter removes toxic gases, fumes and odors.

This machine is easy to maintain. All it needs is periodic filter changes. However, the filters need to be changed every 4-6 months, depending on how much you use it. I only use mine to clean the air in motel rooms when traveling a few times per year, so I have never changed mine in the 3 years I owned it. I use a bit larger Amaircare air purifier in my car than this one, the Amaircare Roomaid Portable HEPA Air Cleaner I mentioned above.

Here are the positives of this air purifier for its its intended purpose of purifying the air in a small space:

1. It is constructed from steel with a finish that will not itself outgas toxic chemicals when in use.

2. The steel housing is attractive and durable.

3. It does a great job removing sub-micron particles without using a HEPA filter system, which would take up a lot more room and not be nearly as portable.

4. Its air flow is strong enough to provide 4-16 full air changes per hour depending on the size of the vehicle or motel room you are using it in.

5. It is easy to install and operate. In a car, attach it to the back of the headrest of your seat, or the headrest of the seat next to you, or simply set it on the floor of the car, and plug it into the cigarette lighter. In a motel room, use the electrical outlet AC adapter, plug it in and set it on a table or chair.

6. Though this has a 5-year warranty on the motor and fan, if a tiny part breaks as it did for me, you are out of luck. However, at the low price, even a few years of worth of use is an excellent return on your investment.

Here are the negatives of this air purifier for its intended usage:

1. Unlike larger air purifiers, no warning lights flash when the filters need to be replaced.

2. There is no on/off switch on this device. It runs as long as it is plugged in.

3. You need to take a little time and effort and use a screw driver to replace the filters, but you replace all three filters simultaneously, which simplifies the process.

4. You need to replace the filters every 4-6 months (approximately every 120-150 hours of use), and the average cost for replacement filters is about $35. Thus, rather like for printers, the real cost is in running the machine, not in the cost up front.

5. If you want to use this in a motel room or your office at work, you will need to buy a separate adapter for that purpose for a separate charge.

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