HOLMES HAP242 AIR PURIFIER REVIEW IMAGE SOURCE: HOLMES

Today our expert air purifier analyst team will be taking a look at the Holmes HAP242 air purifier, a light-weight, durable alternative to the more expensive products on the market. Holmes is a well-respected brand, applying extensive research and background knowledge into the development of every HVAC appliance they introduce into the market, however, is the Holmes HAP242 up to standard? Read our full review below to find out.

Holmes HAP242 Air Purifier

The Holmes HAP242 is an effective air purifier in small living spaces. A cost effective alternative to the more expensive units on the market, unfortunately, the money saved comes at a price. With the product lacking almost all convenient enhancing features, and without any of the certifications we usually look for in similar products, this air purifier comes with a compromise; but is it worth it? The answer depends on whether or not this unit is suitable for your requirements. Continue reading below to see if you could save a large sum of money by purchasing the Holmes HAP242.

Cleaning Capabilities

The Holmes HAP242 air purifier is effective when installed in living spaces of up to 109 square feet. With a smoke CADR of 70, this unit is a reliable alternative to the more expensive, larger units on the market.

With a HEPA filter capable of removing 99% of airborne particulates, this unit is capable of removing particles as small as 2 microns. While this is not the best filter we have encountered in our reviews of home air purifiers, when the listed price of the Holmes HAP242 is taken into consideration, this purifier performs exceptionally well.

In addition to the HEPA filter, this product also benefits from a built-in activated carbon filter, which is effective at combatting common household odors.

A somewhat surprising addition to this device due to its small size is the optional ionizer. Fortunately, the ionizer function of this purifier can be turned off, which may be necessary as there has been controversy surrounding the operation of ionizers in air purifiers, due to their producing trace amounts of Ozone. This has proven to be problematic as the inhalation of Ozone to a certain quantity can lead to certain respiratory diseases. While it’s not likely that Ozone produced by the Holmes HAP242 will actually harm you, we advise that this unit not be operated by anyone who suffers from breathing difficulties.

Efficiency / Certifications

With total air exchanges occurring approximately once every 22 minutes, this unit is slightly less efficient than most other air purifiers, which usually accomplish air exchanges in under 15 minutes. Air exchange is when all of the air in the room has been passed through the unit, and with most units capable of carrying out over four air exchanges in an hour, the fact that the Holmes HAP242 will carry out less than three within 60 minutes is a serious disadvantage.

Unfortunately, there was no information regarding any certifications carried by this unit at the time of this review. For this reason, we advise any of our readers that are considering purchasing this item, to contact Holmes directly, with any questions they have regarding certifications earned by the HAP242.

Convenience

The inclusion of three differing cleaning speeds allows for more convenient operation of this device. For example, when at home the user is able to select a lower speed which will create less noise pollution, all while continuing operation. Conversely, a higher setting can be selected when the user is leaving to allow for intense air purification while they’re away.

Regrettably, there are no other convenient features worth noting built-into this device, although this may be forgiven when considering this product’s ultra-low price when compared to other units on the market.

 Design

One aspect of this unit’s design that we particularly enjoyed was the flexibility of being able to set up this unit in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. As far as weight is concerned, this unit weighs in at about 5.65lbs, making it one of the lightest air purifiers we have come across at Air Conditioners Rated. While there was no exact decibel rating available for this product at the time of this review, we can testify that this unit is very quiet, especially on its lowest setting. An added bonus of this unit is so small is that if it were to prove too loud, it can simply be moved to another area of the room.

Dimensions (Inches)

Height: 7.2″

Width: 14.8″

Depth: 11.4″

Help & Support

Holmes maintains several online resources for users to take advantage of. These include an extensive FAQ section, along with downloadable user manuals and other documents, and an order tracker. Also available online is warranty information and more. Holmes representatives are contactable through a “contact us” page on their website, telephone, and live chat.

This product, in particular, is covered by Holmes’ 3-year limited warranty. For more information, we recommend speaking to a Holmes representative.

Verdict

To conclude our review of the Holmes HAP242, we believe this unit to be a good choice for a small room. However, the lack of certifications and convenient features are unfortunate, and buyers must be prepared for having to manually operate this product. That being said, considering the low asking price, it is at the user’s discretion whether or not the cash saved is worth the sacrifice of strength and features. Our opinion on the matter? The sacrifice of convenient features is definitely worth the drop in price. If you’re working with a budget and can’t afford to deal with the money for a higher-end unit, this one will get the job done, provided it is used in a room of the right size.