Customer Reviews

3M Filtrete Ultra Clean Air Purifier, FAP03-RS

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I spent a great deal of time comparing different purifiers: cost, performance, ease of use, noise, filter replacement, etc. This unit is superb in every respect. The unit is large but is very handsome and blends in well with the room. It has a very smooth fan that is not too loud but but you can really feel it move the air. There is one filter to replace and they are not terribly expensive and easy to find. In short, I think this unit really meets my needs while being fairly inexpensive and, over the past 6 months, 100% reliable.

this works really well compared to the smaller air purifer I usually use. The filters also cost much less to replace(make sure you buy a 4pack when you buy the purifier). It's quite large, and it is quiet, unless it's put on it's highest setting. Im going to take some pictures and upload them so others can see exactly how big it is.

I previously purchased TWO different air purifiers trying to find the best one (in the $75-$200 price range). One purifier was on the edge of the effective sq ft range for my bedroom, the other would have cost TONS in HEPA and pre-filters.

So...I decided to return those two and go with this one. The filters are going to be cheaper, it has better pollen filtration capacity then a lot of other purifiers and hey, this one just looks tons better! The unit does not produce a large amount of noise on low or medium. When you turn it on high the noise resembles that from an in window air conditioner. Also, this purifier is one of the only ones that covers such a large area (350 sq ft).

Like the other review states, it is pretty big but at least it is not a total eyesore!

I really like this product I bought it for my Daughter who has Asthma and my newborn son who is a Heart Patient to help him breath better, and I am very pleased with it. It does clean the Air very well I do notice a difference in my Family Room. I like it so much I plan on buying another for my Bedroom.

Yes, that is right, the $50 or so premium is completely arbitrary.

I can only guess that the "RS" version is marked up since it was reviewed by Consumer Reports. And it ranked only mid pack in the comparison tests. The trouble is that according to 3M's own Filtrete brand representatives, the "RS" and "RC" versions are mechanically identical. The two differences that have nothing to do with units reliablity or performance is aesthetics and controls.

The "RS" (Consumer Reports tested) has a pretty knob control with a plain filter cover while the "RC" has a dash control with three buttons and a perforated ring on the filter cover.

On performance, I purchased this specifically to eliminate fireplace odors from my neighbors. Doesn't do anything for that at all, but my sinuses are clearer, I'm not as stuffy as prior. The nice slight breeze in the room is welcome but as there is no charcoal prefilter, chemical smells won't be cleaned by this unit. Units with this ability tend to go past $300 with annual filter rates above $100, so the FAP03 is better for allergies and as a nice fan.

On size, build, etc. It is simply constructed with good quality plastics. Design of the "RS" control knob is gimmicky but complimentary to the product as well as giving a light hearted touch to the product. The noise is acceptable during the day but as I have audiophile quality hearing, it is deafeningly irritating at night (in my bedroom) that I have to wear earplugs. Most "normal" ears will like its soothing swooshing sound I'd imagine.

As for looks, If you've got lots of white plastic furniture, this will be right at home...if you've got a Victorian decor it will look as out of place as Eve on Earth in the first act of the Wall-E movie. I don't mean that as a compliment.

I've decided to keep mine since I'm smitten with the silly light show knob, my sinuses are clear and I have a CostCo sized can of ear plugs. But most of all, because the shipping costs would wipe out any savings. But if I had another go, I'd get the "RC" version and get an extra set of filters for the same street price as well as lower my expectations appropriate to the unit/consumable costs per year.

If you're even more frugal and DIY'y, you could buy a $20 box fan and the nearly-as-good $14 3M Filtrete Ultra Alergen 20x20 for furnace/ventilation and save yourself $50 more. But that wouldn't help the Taiwanese economy would it?

It is somewhat large, but it seems to work really well. quiet mode is really really quiet. essentially, from what i gather, the fan works on a minimum air flow system. so the more clogged up the filter becomes, the more the fan works to maintain the air flow, once it gets to a certain point, it lets you know you have to replace it.

in between replacing filters i've used tissue paper over the air intake, it seems to work pretty well, not as well, but good enough.

large, but worth it i think, the way it spits out air helps keep the room circulating, just makes it nicer all around.

i give it 4 because if your loaded, i'm sure there's something better, but for the average joe, its good. i've had mine for over three years now, running almost the whole time without issue.

It works great and after using smaller air purifiers I realize that the large size is necessary. Basically, the larger the fan the more crap it can suck in at a lower (quieter) setting. The mild humming that it produces is great for decreasing outside noise and we plan to put one in our baby's room for this reason.

The replacement filters are expensive but you get what you pay for. Vacuum the filters to increase their life.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone, especially people with cats or dogs. Its also great to turn on high for when you vacuum your house to suck in all those little particles that vacuums kick up and emit.

In just 3 weeks my wife's allergy attacks have almost subsided entirely. In addition I am getting a better night's sleep as she has stopped snoreing. We have purchased similair products before but this is the best by far.

I live in an apartment with 2 dogs and 1 cat. Placed the product in the largest space between the living room and dining room...about 240 square ft. Works great...cleans the air so well that I no longer have itchy eyes like I had previously. Also, there is much less pet odor than before. Very impressed.

This is an all around great air purifier. I live in a turn of the century home with wood floors. Prior to owning the Filtrete, dust and dog hair covered our main floor. However, within days after starting the unit we had about a 90% drop in dust, dander and dog hair. I have the FAP02 model as well and plan to get another FAP03 for our basement soon.