Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04712 Allergen Reducing Filter

This filter does not need to be replaced every 120 days. You can get by, by vacuuming it and reuse it a few times. Compared to the price of other filters, this filter is fairly inexpensive. Currently, Amazon has the `Buy 4, Get 1 Free' deal on this. With that noted, I have tried Daniel Sessoms' suggestion (found in TrueAir 04712 filter review) on how to make the "Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04381 Allergen Reducer" purifier more HEPA-like. What I did was add a carbon filter to the TrueAir 04712 Filter by purchasing the "Honeywell 38002 Enviracare Universal Replacement Pre-Filter" (an inexpensive carbon filter). From just one Honeywell 38002 carbon filter, I was able to cut up 12 pieces for the TrueAir 04712 filter (The cut up pieces of carbon filter factor to be only $0.65 a piece based on price I purchased at). Next, I just simply tape one piece of the cut up Honeywell 38002 carbon filter to the front side of the TrueAir 04712 filter with regular masking tape (taped up edges to...Read more

First, I must say that I loved the Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04381 Allergen Reducer Air Cleaner and it was great for all my needs. You would have found my glowing review on Amazon, which I am now deleting.

They have discontinued not only this unit (which is an acceptable move for a better model), but they also ended the proprietary filters that are required to use it! I have two of these $80 units and paid the $19 price for the replacement filters, because the combo worked better than anything I have ever tried. Of course, now there is some greedy third party merchants here inflating the price on their filter overstock to almost twice the price. But you can get the units for next to nothing.

The discontinuing of the filters is just completely unacceptable, and I will NEVER buy anything connected to Hamilton...Read more

The filter and the system work very well for me. I find the H-B model 04381 a very quiet unit, and it runs 24/7 (on low) in my bedroom. Here is a hint, for those who would like near-HEPA performance: Fabricate & install a charcoal pre-filter when installing a new main filter. You can get these at Sears or other places that sell home air filters & supplies: Honeywell Universal Replacement Pre-filter #38002. Cut a piece to size, tape it to the new filter on the air inlet side. Secure it well all around the edges. I like that new blue masking tape, it works really well and does not dry out (at least when it is not exposed to excessive heat or sunlight).

As a bonus, you get an automatic change indicator: When the black charcoal pre-filter turns grey, it is time for a replacement.