Austin Air Pet Machine Air Purifier

When we added two more cats to our current pair who are indoor only, it quickly became very apparent that we had to do something about the odor that rapidly and exponentially permeated every room in the house! Of course, we have all the typical pet smells like food, dander and the litter box plus the two newest cats became indoor/outdoor so they bring in a whole variety of smells with them!

We tried the typical air fresheners and odor eliminators and odor absorbers in about every available space and outlet around the litter box and throughout the house. When those didn?t work, we switched to the specialty sprays and foams to clean the floors and treat the carpets which became a daily endeavor.

Finally, someone at the local pet store recommended an air purifier, so we figured ?why not? because it certainly couldn?t hurt! The first purifier was just a basic machine that we could set up in the areas immediately near the litter box and food bowls where the odors primarily emanated. There was a slight improvement, not an overall eradication, but improvement nonetheless. That seemed to work for a few months, but we decided it didn?t really do much for other areas in the house.

The next decision to make was whether to buy more of the same basic models to be put in other rooms or find a better option. What turned into a 6 week search eventually resulted in the discovery of the Austin Air Pet Machine Air Purifier. While Austin Air isn?t the most well known brands on the market for the average buyer, it has turned out to be worth more than the name stenciled on the side.

With this machine placed towards the center of our ranch-style home, there is a distinctly noticeable freshness throughout. It has a four stage system that removes various sized particles from the air, but one of the stages is specifically designed to capture odors associated with pets such as ammonia and dander through a carbon & zeolite blend in the filter. It has a HEPA filter that?s easily cleaned and replaced as necessary and claims it is of a medical grade.

Aesthetically, it comes in different colors to help blend in with the décor and remain unnoticed while the wheels or coasters make it easily transportable as needed. Just by having the Pet Machine in the house, we?ve even noticed our son?s mild allergies have improved and he?s sleeping much better, too. For that matter, we?re all sleeping better!

As far as maintenance and upkeep, fortunately, the main filter is estimated to last up to five years, but does need the occasional vacuuming every few months. Sadly, though, there isn?t a filter indication to let me know when it?s time to change the filter, so it?s necessary to keep track myself. It?s comforting to know it has a five year warranty, too.

The noise of the machine was a little bit of a disappointment because it?s just not as quiet as I thought it would be, but it doesn?t keep us awake and doesn?t scare the cats so it?s tolerable. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the price. Being in the $500 range makes it one of the more expensive purifiers we considered and definitely at the top of our price scale.

Not only does the machine initially cost a pretty penny, but the main filter replacement runs more than $200, but if spread across the estimated five years, it?s not terribly bad in the long run. Despite the price, though, we?ve been thoroughly pleased with the Pet Machine!

We still run the smaller unit in the corner area right around where the cats? food and litter box is located, but the stench no longer permeates the entire house. For a more comfortable home, fewer allergies and better sleep, the whole process has been a success!

Pros:
-noticeable results
-5 year warranty
-aesthetically pleasing

Cons:
-mediocre noise

Rating: 4 of 5 stars