IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact Air Purifiers – Comparison Review

IQAir HealthPro Plus           IQAir HealthPro Compact
  vs    

If you are considering buying an air purifier for the home then you have probably already heard of the IQAir Healthpro series of machines. They are very highly regarded by experts in the field of air purification, they have received dozens of industry awards, and they even have a partnership with the American Lung Association.

Perhaps you have read the very positive online user reviews or someone has recommended the IQAir brand to you based upon their own personal experience of using one of their air purifiers?

Either way, buying an air purifier can be a complicated and confusing business and it doesn’t help that it is sometimes quite difficult to tell the difference between similarly named machines from the same company.

When I first encountered the IQAir HealthPro series of machines, I must admit that I couldn’t immediately tell the difference between the HealthPro Plus and the HealthPro Compact air purifiers. I could see that the Plus version was slightly more expensive than the Compact version and that it was a bit larger in size (hence the use of the word “compact”), but that was about it.

There had to be more to it than simply the size of the machine and I wanted to find out what it was. The truth is that these machines are the same in most respects, but there are a few differences for you to discover.

This is a comparison review of the IQAir HealthPro Plus and IQAir HealthPro Compact air purifiers. In this review, I will explain the important similarities and differences between these 2 machines so that you can make a better informed decision about which one is best for you and your family.

In this review, I am writing about the “New Edition” versions of the IQAir HealthPro air purifiers that come with up to 25% more clean air, are 32% quieter, and have up to 38% more filter life than their predecessors.

IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact at a Glance

Feature	IQAir HealthPro Plus	IQAir HealthPro Compact
HEPA Filters	Yes	Yes
Dimensions of Unit	H 28" x W 15" x D 16"	H 24" x W 15" x D 16"
Weight of Unit	35 lbs	26 lbs
Number of Fan Speeds	6	6
Sound Emissions	25, 36, 44, 50, 54, 59 dB(A)	25, 36, 44, 50, 54, 59 dB(A)
Number of Filters	3	2
Air Delivery Rates (cfm)	40, 75, 130, 170, 200, 300	40, 75, 140, 180, 220, 330
Efficiency at 0.3 microns	99.97%	99.97%
Efficiency at 0.003 microns	99.5%	99.5%
Official CADR Rating	Not Tested	Not Tested
V5 Gas & Odor Filter	Yes	No
Ozone-Free	Yes	Yes
Warranty	5 - 10 year parts and labor	5 - 10 year parts and labor
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact – Similarities

Before I explain the few differences between these machines, I want to explain the features that they share so that you can get a better idea of what they are capable of doing to improve the air quality in your home.

1. The Hyper-HEPA Filter & Pre-Filter

Both machines come with a PreMax pre-filter to remove larger particles and then a Hyper-HEPA filter to remove the smaller particles that remain.

The HealthPro Plus also has a V5 Gas & Odor filter, which is discussed in more detail below, but for now lets just take a look at the efficiency levels of the pre-filter and Hyper-HEPA filters that are found on both machines.

The pre-filters are pretty straightforward. If you are going to get the best performance and longevity out of the Hyper-HEPA filters, you need to remove the larger particles so that the Hyper-HEPA can get on with doing the hard job of removing the smallest stuff. You don’t want to have the Hyper-HEPA clogged up with larger particles.

The normal benchmark for a true-HEPA filter is that it must be able to remove 99.97% of airborne particles that are as small as 0.3 microns in size.

Both the HealthPro Plus and the HealthPro Compact air purifiers go well beyond that “true-HEPA” benchmark. The Hyper-HEPA filters are capable of removing a staggering 99.5% of airborne particles that are as small as 0.003 microns in size. That is 100 times more than the other air purifiers on the market that are fitted with standard True-HEPA filters instead.

If you are someone that suffers with asthma or allergies, the ability of these machines to filter out such small particles is going to be a big improvement over most (if not all) of the other HEPA air purifiers on the market.

One of the added bonuses of the Hyper-HEPA filter’s impressive performance is that there is no need to add extra ionizer or electrostatic units to the purifiers in order to target the smaller particles.

There are some videos below to further explain how these filters work and the results that you can expect.

2. Noise Emissions

The noise levels for both machines range between 25 and 59 dB(A).

It is always difficult to write about how noisy a machine is and for most people the dB(A) numbers are pretty meaningless.

Also, people have very different tolerance levels for noise and one person might be able to sleep happily with the unit on the top setting (6), another person might find it impossible to sleep with the unit on a mid-level (3).

The general consensus amongst those who have bought and reviewed these air purifiers is that the first 4 levels are pretty quiet. Once you get to the 5th and 6th levels, opinion is more divided between those who aren’t bothered by these levels and those who find them much harder to tolerate.

Personally, I could sleep with the unit on levels 1 to 5, but would struggle at level 6. The answer is simply to turn the level down to one that is comfortable during the night, but then turn it up to a higher setting when you are out of the house.

They are very quiet when used on the lowest 3 settings.

3. Replacement Filters for the IQAir HealthPro

Aside from the fact that the HealthPro Plus comes with an extra Gas & Odor Filter, both models use exactly the same PreMax Pre-Filters and exactly the same Hyper-HEPA filters.

As a result, the lifespan of these filters and their replacement costs are pretty much identical. There might be some slight differences, but not enough to worry about.

The HealthPro filters are expensive, but they tend to last a lot longer than those used by its competitors and so these 2 factors probably cancel each other out.

The PreMax Pre-Filters: They have an average lifespan of 18 months.

The Hyper-HEPA Filters: They have an average lifespan of 4 years.

The V5 Gas & Odor Filters: They have an average lifespan of 2 years.

One very handy extra feature is that you don’t have to guess when it is time to replace one of the filters, because there are warning systems to tell you when they have run out of life. Not only that, but there is a display that tells you how many days are left before each filter needs to be replaced.

Changing the filters on the IQAir HealthPro air purifier units is pretty simply as it is a modular system. The user manual and very helpful DVD that is supplied with both units will help you through the process.

Here is a short video demonstration …

4. The IQAir HealthPro’s Clinical Look

Lets be honest, these are not pretty machines and look like they have come straight out of the Emergency Room of your local hospital.

But, whilst IQAir could have invested large sums of money making them look nice and sleek, that is money that they would not then have been able to invest in improving the performance of their units.

Ultimately, these are serious machines that are designed to remove bothersome and potentially harmful particles from your home. They are not pieces of designer furniture.

At the end of the day, would you rather than an attractive unit that has a HEPA filter that is rated to deal with particles that are as small as 0.3 microns, or one that has a Hyper-HEPA filter that is rated to deal with particles as small as 0.003 microns?

If you are desperate to find a more stylish looking unit, then you could take a look at the Alen BreatheSmart air purifiers instead.

5. Control Panel & Settings

These are 2 of the easiest and most adaptable air purifiers to program via their control panels.

Rather than having to constantly turn the purifier on and off, or up and down in speed setting, you can program these changes to take place automatically throughout the days and weeks.

So, you can tell the unit when to turn or or off, and also program it to change settings at certain times of the day to suit your particular circumstances.

6. The IQAir HealthPro is Ozone Free!

I am not going to write extensively about the dangers of using air purifiers that emit quantities of ozone gas into your home, but the scientific evidence is pretty clear on this issue.

Ozone gas is a lung irritant and can cause all sorts of unpleasant health problems if you are exposed to it in sufficient quantities for a period of time.

Many high performance air purifiers rely upon filtration units that cause varying amounts of ozone to be released into the home. Not only is this potentially dangerous, but it is likely to actually make your allergy or asthma symptoms worse rather than better.

I personally would never use an ozone-emitting air purifier in my home and so I am certainly not going to recommend any to you either.

The great thing about the IQAir HealthPro air purifiers is that they achieve great results without emitting any ozone!

So, you can be assured that any benefits that you get to the quality of your air is obtained safely and without replacing those airborne particles with potentially even more dangerous airborne ozone particles.

IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact – Differences

1. The V5 Gas & Odor Filter

The main difference between the HealthPro Plus and the HealthPro Compact is that the Plus model comes with a 3rd filter, which is called the V5 Gas & Odor filter. Not only does the Compact not come with the V5 filter, but it also cannot be upgraded to include the V5 filter at a later date.

So, if you think that you might need the added V5 filter at some stage then you need to buy the HealthPro Plus model from the start.

What is the V5 Gas & Odor filter and do you need it?

The Hyper-HEPA filter will not necessarily be able to deal effectively with very fine gaseous particles, including VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other nasty chemicals. In fact, no HEPA filters can really cope with these problems.

The V5 Gas & Odor filter has 2 parts to it, comprising an activated carbon absorption component and pelletized chemisorption.

So, if you want a machine that can specifically target unpleasant gases and odors in this home like cooking smells, smoke, and volatile organic compounds then you need to go for the Plus model.

If you can do without the V5 Gas & Odor filter than you can save a little money by choosing the Compact model over the Plus version.

2. The Size & Weight of the Unit

As its name suggests, and as you will have noticed from the comparison table above, the HealthPro Compact unit is slightly more compact than the HealthPro Plus, which makes it smaller and lighter.

There isn’t a huge amount in it – certainly not enough to make it a big part of your purchasing decision. If you do need to move the unit between rooms, they both come fitted with castors so that you don’t even have to carry it.

3. Air Delivery Rates

The air delivery rates for these machines are the same for the first 2 speed settings, but the Compact unit has slightly higher air delivery rates at the 4 highest speed settings.

There isn’t much in it and I wouldn’t make a decision based upon those figures.

Personally, I would rather have the extra V5 Gas & Odor Filter than an extra 10% air delivery rate.

4. Maximum Room Size

As you will see from the video below, both machines are rated as suitable for use in rooms measuring about 1,000 square feet.

The optimum room sized for maximum performance is about 550 square feet.

IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact – Videos

IQAir HealthPro Plus vs HealthPro Compact – My Verdict

The IQAir HealthPro Plus and HealthPro Compact air purifiers are undoubtedly 2 of the most popular and highly rated high-end machines on the market today.

They have received endorsements from the American Lung Association and have won numerous industry awards.

In addition to endorsements from these bodies, the anecdotal evidence from previous purchasers and users of these machines is that they have helped to significantly improve the air quality in their homes and reduced symptoms of asthma and allergies.

The main difference between the 2 models is that the Plus version comes with an extra V5 Gas & Odor Filter.

I highly recommend both machines but, if your budget can stretch to it, I would always choose the HealthPro Plus version in order to get the extra filter.

Check Latest Price of the HealthPro Plus

Read User Reviews of the HealthPro Plus

Check Latest Price of the HealthPro Compact

Read User Reviews of the HealthPro Compact

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