Affordable Air Purifiers - Alen T100 Vs. Surround Air S3000

Air purification is quickly become a billion dollar industry, with an increasing number of consumers now being concerned over indoor air quality. As mentioned before in several of our previous blog entries, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) themselves have declared indoor air quality as the nation's worst environmental health problem, and they have also warned that indoor air is generally 2 to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution. In addition, allergies, asthma, and hay fever are becoming much more prevalent and severe in recent years as a direct result of rapidly worsening indoor air quality. Therefore, as a result of this increased concern over air quality, air purifiers are becoming quite popular.

Unfortunately, with so many air purifier choices available, poorly engineered and manufactured air purifiers are not uncommon, and many consumers may find themselves purchasing products with design flaws when a well-designed unit can be had relatively inexpensively. Some of the more high-end air purifiers often feature state-of-the-art technologies such as UV sterilization, Photocatalytic Oxidation, and Gas Phase Filters, but these types of air purifiers are often geared towards specific air purification concerns such as allergies, mold infestations, microbiological contaminants, and hazardous chemicals and gases.

However, if the above conditions are not applicable to you and you just need an all-purpose air purifier to clean the air your home, affordable air purifiers are available. Here are two brands we have found to be dependable and at under $200, they are definitely wallet-friendly.

Alen - T100 ($149)

Alen air purifiers have been known to offer quality and affordability. Their company aims to manufacture stylish, top-performing products without the premium price; in other words, "life without compromise." Like more expensive air purifiers, Alen air cleaners effectively trap and destroy pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, and other pollutants which can inflame asthma and allergies.

Alen uses True HEPA Filters on all of their air purifier models, as well as activated carbon for enhanced odor removal. Like some of the popular air purifiers offered by companies such as Sharper Image, the T100 air purifier comes in a space-saving tower style. The T100 is ideal for use in smaller areas up to 125 square feet such as an office cubicle or room, and similar to the other Alen models, the T100 offers Allergy-HEPA filtration with activated carbon. In terms of other filtration technologies, the Alen T100 also includes a built-in ionizer which minimizes pollutants an produces no ozone. In terms of operation, the T100 is very user-friendly. This particular model features a digital display with simple and intuitive touch button control. The T100 also comes with a Life Warranty; therefore, your investment is protected from the unexpected.

Overall, for no a no-frills air purifier that will help eliminate contaminants for your air, the Alen T100 is a great choice.

Ratings (on a scale from 1 to 10):
Value: 9
Efficiency: 7
Maintenance Costs: 7

Surround Air - S3000 ($199)

Surround Air has been in the air purifier business for over ten years, and like the Alen Corporation, one of their top priorities are to manufacture high-quality air purification products at an affordable price. Surround Air has an extensive product line that includes home air purifiers, car air purifiers, and even smokeless ashtrays. However, unlike Alen, Surround Air uses different technologies for their different styles of air purifiers. For the purpose of this review, we looked at a comparably priced air purifier - the Surround Air Multi-Tech S3000 air purifier, Surround Air's newest product.

At $199, the S3000 is truly a bargain. This air purifier utilizes six air cleaning technologies that are usually found in the more expensive air purifier models such as pre-filters, a True HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, a TiO2 filter, UV lamp, and an air purifying ionizer. The powerful fan helps maximize air changes and increases the unit's air filtering capacity without generating too much noise. Also, the Surround Air Multi-Tech S3000 has a large coverage area of up to 600 square feet - making it perfect for large bedrooms and living rooms. The unit sports a large and well-light LCD panel with advanced graphics, and operation is quite simple. Best of all, this air purifier is virtually free of maintenance costs. The HEPA filter within the unit is washable, and while the other filters can be replaced, this is not required for continued operation. Surround Air offers a three-year warranty on the S3000.

In terms of bang for your buck, the S3000 can't be beat. Chock full of features and reasonably priced, this air purifier can definitely help you breathe easier.

Ratings (on a scale from 1 to 10)
Value: 9
Efficiency: 8
Maintenance Costs: 10

The Alen T100 Air Purifier - Effective, Yet Affordable

Purifying your air doesn't have to be expensive. While some of the more advanced air purifiers on the market often tout high-tech features such as PCO technology and UV sterilization, for those who just want to breathe in cleaner air, the Alen T100 Air Purifier is a great choice, as it delivers the technology and performance you'll find in more expensive models at a price that'll help you breathe easier.

Because it only weighs 8 pounds, the T100 is compact enough for you to move it from room to room. Therefore, this air purifier is ideal for small areas up to 125 square feet such as bedrooms, dorm rooms, or office cubicles. Using a combination pre-filter and HEPA filter, the Alen T100 has the ability to remove 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger - making it the perfect choice for those suffering from asthma and allergies. Digital controls and intuitive touch buttons allow for easy operation, and this air purifier is backed by a lifetime warranty. Also, when we tested the T100 in our office, we found that it was virtually silent at the lowest setting, and hardly noticeable at the highest.

At only $149, the Alen T100 air purifier is definitely a bargain.