Honeywell 17000N Permanent Pure HEPA Quietcaire Air Purifier

This year I purchased another Honeywell air cleaner with a HEPA filter (Model 17400) for my bedroom because I had contacted bacterial pneumonia last year and wanted to make sure I did not get it again. Next, I purchased this Honeywell 17000 Air Cleaner (with HEPA filter) for use in a smaller bedroom which has been turned into a home office and library.

These air cleaners really work! This winter I have not had a cold or flu. Also, this Honeywell Air Cleaner with HEPA filter is whisper soft, and I have had no problems with sleeping, working, reading, watching tv, or listening to music when it is running on the low and medium settings. I leave it on all the time, and I've found that it cleans the air best when the door is closed.

It has a convenient handle on the top, so I can move it to another room quite easily. Also, it is light enough that I can take it with me in the car if I want to use it away from home.

The prefilters last about 3-6 months, (and they can be vacuumed often if you have pets who shed). I change my HEPA filter every year, but you can wait 3 years to do so. These filters are easy to change. The Model 17000 is for a smaller room, and the Model 17400 is for a larger space.

Highly recommended for anyone who has pets, who lives with or entertains people who smoke, and who is allergic to dust, molds, or pollens.


Does the job, but rather noisy   May 19, 2005
Richard J. Mcgrath (Beacon, NY, USA)
98 out of 101 found this review helpful

The Honeywell seems quite well made. The pre-filter and filter are easy to change. The carry handle on top is useful when you want to move it from room to room. The HEPA filter seems to work fine, as any other True HEPA model will, but my real concern is the noise level.

If all HEPA purifiers were like this, I would accept it, but I recently purchased the "Kenmore 295 CADR True HEPA Air Cleaner" from Sears. It is described as "America's quietest true HEPA high-efficiency air cleaner technology". The Kenmore is _quieter_ on its _highest_ setting, than the honeywell is on its _lowest_ setting, and if you put the Kenmore on its lowest setting, you can barely hear it. You'll have no problem sleeping or watching TV with it running. Note that even though the Kenmore is much quieter, it has a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) twice that of the Honeywell, and it handles a room twice the size. I paid $199 for the Kenmore, so yes, a little more expensive than the honeywell, but absolutely worth it.

So, the honeywell is fine, but you won't want to run it continuously or run it while you sleep because of the noise. There are better models out there. Look into the Kenmore.


very disappointed   May 13, 2003
34 out of 38 found this review helpful

I have been using a Norelco Clean Air Purifier for probably over 10 years now. I thought it was time to get a new air purifier because now it seems I have to change the filters more frequently. From the reviews I thought that this model would be perfect. After I purchased it I was very disappointed: First, it's TOO LOUD!!! It's supposed to be "QuietCare" and I don't find it quiet even on the lowest level - that's probably because the purifier itself is SO BIG (10.5 x 15.5 x 14). That's the second thing I don't like about it - the size. My Norelco is less than half that size and works much better and is much quieter. {I definitely would have bought another Norelco if they were still making them.} Last, but definitely not least, this air purifier does absolutely nothing to reduce odor (I have a pet). There are TWO filters with this model and still it does not help to reduce odors! Another reason I purchased this model is because I was able to get it on sale (somewhere else). I don't even think it's worth that and I am really considering returning it.
The room I am using it in is 11 x 13 and it states that it is preferably for a room up to 12 x 14. The thing is so big you would think it could purify a room twice that size.
This is the first time I am writing a review and I am only writing this because I wish there was a review like this when I was shopping around so that I would have looked for another brand of air purifier.


Positive (realistic) review   February 14, 2003
Carey (Sea Cliff, NY United States)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

I have never had an air cleaner, so I have no basis for comparison. I also have not had it for too long, so i can't advise on it's long term performance. That being said I am very happy so far with it. I recently, and for no aparent reason, developed mild asthma and allergies. I have two cats and, while I am not a pathological neat-freak, don't have small messes around the home, and I vacuum frequently. Both my asthma and allergies have gone away. The air is remarkably more crisp, and my sleep, while it was good to begin with, is better.

As for my experience with the noise level, and with deference to other reviews, I have no problems with the cleaner. This thing has moving parts, i.e., the consequences of thermodynamics and mechanics hold sway: there will be heat, friction, viscous drag over surfaces, etc... it sounds like a fan. On the lowest setting, which still filters a large volume of air (per time), sleeping or reading is very comfy in the same room. While the two higher settings may be too much to relax in the same room with, it will be slightly audible in another (close proximity) room.

The filters are easily accessed. They are concentric with one HEPA and a carbon prefilter, and are, at first glance, sealed.


Why do people expect silence?   December 2, 2006
H. Nelson
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

If you want a silent, useless air cleaner, go buy an overpriced oreck or sharper image unit. It will reduce things like smoke and tiny, tiny particles, but forget it getting rid of dust. I know, I had one. If you want a unit that actually "Filters" the air, buy this. Sure on Medium or High this unit will add background noise, but on low, it is hardly noticable if it's not right next to you. We noticed an immediate "crisp feel" to the air and huge reduction in dust in the air. My cough of 3 weeks is gone overnight. Coincidence.. I think not.

Don't read into the reviews that bash the noise.. Noise means it's working.