If you are looking for an air purifier, the Honeywell HFD-120-Q is definitely going to grab your attention due to its immense popularity. This unit has a permanent filtration system which is a good choice for those who don’t like to buy the replacement filters every time. The HFD-120-Q is specially manufactured to eliminate those airborne pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and microbes. it has the following CADR values: Tobacco 110, Dust 132, and pollen 132.
According to these values, the recommended room size stands to 17×10‘ (170 sq. ft.) which is similar to an average bedroom. The Honeywell circulates the air effectively in this medium-sized room up to 5 times an hour. In case of smaller rooms (up to 80 sq ft), it can circulate a maximum of 10 air exchanges per hour.
Few retailers state that this Honeywell HFD-120-Q Air Purifier has a trueHEPA filter system, but in fact, it is not a true HEPA filter. Since the Honeywell HFD-120-Q is equipped with so many features; it is one of the most effective purifiers to eliminate airborne pollutants, such as dust, animal dander, and cigarette smoke.
Though this product cannot entirely cure your allergies, it only keeps the air fresh and clean and this is what certain people need. With its sleek design and elegant look, this Honeywell air purifier captures your attention in one go and embraces the eye with its black finish.
Contrary to large, lumbering air purifiers that consume a lot of space in your room; this purifier takes the least space possible and complements the room decoration very well. With its lightweight body, weighing just 14 pounds, this HFD-120-Q model can be placed anywhere.
Arriving with three speeds, the novelty of this product is within its oscillation abilities. Like a normal fan, the Honeywell HFD-120-Q oscillates, giving out a chill gust of air back and forth in all directions. If you want to keep your sinuses clear, you can choose to sit beside the unit and breathe in the fresh air directly. After installing the Honeywell HFD-120-Q in your house, you won’t require a standard room fan anymore.
Honeywell HFD-120-Q review Features
– Traps up to 99% of the airborne particles such as smoke, dust, pollen, and pet dander while the air circulates.
– Reaches the air in all the directions
– ENERGY STAR Certified
– ON/OFF control for oscillation
– LED-touch control panel with three-speed settings
– Electronic filter check indicator to remind you for cleaning the filter
– Washable filters – simple rinse filters with water and let dry.
– ARB Certified
Intro to the Honeywell HFD-120-Q
Air purifiers function with a lot of mechanisms internally to eliminate airborne particles from the air at the time of circulation. Almost all the purifiers use multiple filtration methods to destroy the impurities from the air. This air purifier also comes with three cleaning levels to make sure the air circulation remains pure and revitalizing. The Honeywell HFD-120-Q is ideal for use in a room of 100 and 200 square feet.
Additionally, this unit also has a permanent IFD filter which is both removable and washable. This long lasting filter does not require replacement of any sort and can also be vacuumed to make it clean. All the above-said compliments and features boost this purifier to trap up to 99.97% of airborne impurities. An ionizer functions by aiming at the charged particles that move freely in the air. This air cleaner also has a built-in ionizer which has the ability to eliminate the contaminants before it reaches your respiratory organs. The HFD-120-Q applies various techniques to make the air clean and tidy and away from harmful airborne contaminants like pollen, pet dander, dust, and tobacco smoke.
How your air purifier works?
This model air purifier has a 3-stage cleaning system to clean the air completely.
Stage 1: Washable Pre-Filter
Stage 2: Permanent Washable IFD Filter
Stage 3: Electronic Ionizer
Set-up
Setting up a fan at the right place is the most difficult task since it is a matter of getting a proper airflow. For this, place the Honeywell HFD-120-Q at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from any wall or furniture. Also, make sure to place it firmly on a flat surface. While functioning, large volumes of air are drawn and then circulated from the air purifier, therefore it is advised to clean the immediate environment to avoid accumulation of dust and other contaminates.
This one step can increase the lifespan of your air purifier without the tension of cleaning the filter in short intervals. To save it from any staining, the unit can be put on a light colored carpet, a small mat or rug. This is especially important in homes with allergens arising from smoking or fireplaces.
Performance
This is a very useful device depending on what you need it for. Imagine a scenario where you are hosting a dinner party. Now, ten minutes before the arrival of guests, your dog rolls around the area wet and hypothetically lights a cigarette. So, the aroma of your dinner is overpowered by a wet dog and tobacco smoke. Why bringing up this scenario? To demonstrate one of the advantages of buying the Honeywell HFD-120-Q, which is that it operates very quickly.
Supposing your dining room is small in size, this air purifier could resolve your wet dog situation in about 20 to 30 minutes. The HFD-120-Q can circulate the air 10 times per hour in small rooms. If you’re installing this purifier in a small bedroom or dining room, you get noiseless, swift and efficient operation day in/day out.
The Honeywell HFD-120-Q is bound to deal with smoke and dust perfectly. Another bonus: Since the provided filters are permanent, the long-term maintenance cost of purchasing is extremely low. You don’t need to spend money looking for replacement filters because all you need to do is to clean the filter after taking it out, once in a few months.
Ozone
The Honeywell HFD-120-Q is equipped with an ionizer which comes with its own repercussions. These devices generally emit ozone (in very small levels). Although, increasing levels of this ozone might lead to various lung diseases. Since it releases ozone in very small amounts and that too under a permissible limit, people don’t need to worry much about it. To be on the safe side, we would suggest people with respiratory problems not to use the ionic air purifiers.
Energy
The Honeywell HFD-120-Q can be used after plugging it into a standard 110V power outlet. Since it is ENERGY STAR certified, it cuts your electricity bill even after using it every day, for 24/7. Going by customer reviews, it consumes only 43 Watts on the highest setting. Comparatively, a slim desktop air purifier like the Honeywell 16200 consumes 44 Watts on the maximum purifying setting.
Honeywell HFD-120-Q Controls
The control panel is located on the top. It has three buttons to adjust the fan speeds. Specifically, this model has a good oscillation feature so that the air is circulated in all directions. Moreover, a button is added to ON/OFF this feature. Apart from that, the air purifier comes with an indicator light which reminds you when to clean the filter.
Honeywell HFD-120-Q Specs
Warranty: 5 Year Limited.
Product Size (LxWxH): 11″ x 10″ x 29″
AHAM Certified
The CADR values the amount of filtered air circulated by an air purifier. Greater rating for tobacco smoke, pollen and dust numbers signifies swift filtering process.
Tobacco Smoke: 110
Dust: 100
Pollen: 132
Room Size: 17’x10′ (170 sq ft)
FAQ
Q: How often is cleaning required?
A: Cleaning is required once every four weeks based on the air quality of the room. The IFD filter must also be cleaned by a vacuum attachment. However, it is advised to wash the IFD filter not more than once in a month.
Q: How long should I run my Air Purifier?
A: For excellent outcome, you must run your Air Purifier 24 hours a day. To make the product more effective, you must close the doors and windows.
Honeywell HFD-120-Q Pros and Cons
Pros
The oscillating feature is outstanding.
Noiseless operation along with a permanent pre-filter.
Capable of removing 99.97 percent of airborne impurities.
Cons
Honeywell Quiet clean HFD-120-Q Tower Air Purifier runs effectively when it is 3 feet away from the wall but its cord is too short to be installed with that much of a gap between the wall and the furniture. The HFD-120-Q has a built-in ionizer which might be harmful to asthma patients. Symptoms of asthma may be provoked while using an ionic air purifier. So, only non-ionizing, pure HEPA filtration air purifiers are recommended. Since this unit blows air like a fan, the oscillating feature circulates air in all directions but it often makes the surrounding a bit cold. This might be troublesome for some people.
Conclusion: Should I Buy the Honeywell HFD-120-Q
The Honeywell HFD-120-Q Tower is an affordable and excellent dust removal air purifier that circulates air at a moderate speed. This unit is not equipped with a HEPA filter but Honeywell has its own patented innovative kind of filter technology that is licensed in the US.
If you are comfortable in washing the filter every 2 weeks to maintain its performance, then saving money on filter replacements is worth doing. On the other hand, some buyers are a bit wary about the dirt and waste in the filter and prefer disposing the filter into the garbage once a year.
As this purifier is not equipped with a true HEPA filter, it gets lower efficiency rates for the filtration. However, it operates at very low or minimal noise levels, consuming less electricity. Most of the Honeywell units are devoid of activated carbon filter or other additives which show their inability to get rid of strong odors or chemicals. This goes for the Honeywell HFD-120-Q air purifier as well. However, at such a rate, it can be used as a dust removal unit to form some basic protection. With easy controls and oscillation function, it feels strong and well built with thick plastic material used for manufacturing.
Customer Reviews
Generally, I don’t write reviews, but this product forced me to write one. I bought this air purifier many years ago, in 2008, to settle into an apartment that had dust everywhere and honestly, this product helped me immensely. From that time, it has worked even after multiple bumpy moves, including a road trip across the country and so on. I happened to dump this fan in storage for about a year and a half, and when I cleaned and plugged it, it operated like the newly bought product.
It surely does what it’s made for. I remember how, a few years ago, my roommate got all curious and bewildered upon holding a burger and standing right behind the fan while breathing in the “purified” air. I was sure that he kind of missed his burger’s aroma!
I cannot recommend any other product except this one as I am unsure if any product could last so long and still run great. The inner filters are super simple to clean except the foam which is pretty tough to clean. I just saw that they have Honeywell HFD-120-Q replacements for $8 and I am going to buy that only. The front of the filter also calls for maintenance in terms of cleaning at some point in time and that is a bit of a tedious thing to do. I recommend q-tips with the two different sized ends. The purifier is amazingly quiet. Seriously, even after 9 years of use, it works noiselessly at the highest settings unlike most of the air purifiers.
Another Review
I really like the Honeywell HFD-120-Q. I use this device for most of the time as I am prone to allergies. I like its oscillation feature as it proves very effective in summers. I replaced an older model of a fan that did not oscillate like this one. The Honeywell HFD-120-Q has a permanent filter which is pretty easy to clean. It was a bit discolored after manual cleaning but the manual stated that this will not affect its performance. I did buy the replacement pre-filters because they were too dirty to clean. I love the fact that the pre-filters are available everywhere but I found it a bit costly as I replace it frequently. I definitely recommend this product.
Operation
Make sure the air purifier is plugged into the power supply.
Press the power button once. The fan starts at medium speed for some time and then the speed drops down to low.
Press the power button again to choose a different cleaning level.
It is advised to run your air purifier 24 hours a day for continuous purification.
Portable air purifiers are more convenient in rooms where all doors and windows are shut.
Electronic filter clean reminder
This air purifier comes with an electronic filter check indicator to remind you for cleaning the washable IFD filter according to the condition of the filters. The indicator light remains ON till it is reset. You may unplug the air purifier without disturbing the filter check process. A red LED light will indicate the cleaning time. You should check the filter at regular intervals and clean it at least once a month.
To RESET the Electronic Filter Check
When the filters check light displays the red light, you need to check the filter for cleaning. If cleaning is required, insert the tip of a ball-point pen or paperclip next to the LED filter check light and hold for around 5 seconds to turn OFF the light.
Relying on the environment and time of usage, you need to monitor and clean the filters accordingly. In case, you clean the IFD filters before the filter monitor light turns ON, the filter monitor should be reset at the same time. The cleaning timeline as per the brand is just for reference and it may vary according to the concentration of impurities trapped in the filter. High concentrations of contaminants such as dust, pet dander, and smoking will inhibit the efficiency of the filter.
Oscillation feature
This fan has an oscillation function to circulate clean and fresh air throughout the room.
Press the Oscillation button to switch ON the Oscillation feature.
Press the button again to turn Oscillation OFF.
Removing the filters
The IFD filters are located inside the air purifier.
Power OFF and unplug the air purifier from the main switch. Press the notches placed along the rear grille and pull the grill towards yourself to remove it.
Gently push along the edge of the filter frame and pull to completely detach it.
Do the same for another filter.
Put the grille back to its place after removing the filters.
Cleaning the IFD filters
Detach the IFD Filter from the air purifier and lay down the filter on a plane surface.
Clean the filter by a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle or brush attachment to suck the dust and other tiny particles. Repeat on both sides.
If your IFD filter still has dirt which has not been cleaned by tapping and vacuuming, follow the steps below to rinse the IFD filter.
Power OFF and unplug the air purifier.
Detach the IFD filter from the unit.
Fill a sink with lukewarm water and add some drops of dish soap liquid.
Smoothly immerse the filter in the soap solution to clean.
Soak the filter for 2-3 minutes. Do not leave it for more time duration.
Wash the filter with tap water.
Shake the filter to remove any excess water.
Place the filter carefully on a clean towel.
Note that the filter might be discolored even after washing but it will not affect the performance.
Keep the filter to dry for a few hours or overnight.
When the IFD filter is fully dry, put it back into the air purifier.
Caution: Never attach a wet IFD filter inside your air purifier.
The IFD Filter is NOT dishwasher-friendly. Do not put the IFD filter into a dishwasher.
Do not wash it with boiled water.
Do not use any solvents, strong cleaning agents or flammable liquids to clean the IFD filter.
Cleaning the pre-filter
The pre-filter traps a lot of airborne particles during circulation
This pre-filter can be taken out or detached and can be washed using the hand with warm water. The filter can be attached again once it is absolutely dry.
Cleaning and storage
We suggest you clean the Honeywell HFD-120-Q at least once a month. Use of water, wax polish, or any chemical solution is strictly prohibited. Instead, wipe the outer surfaces of the air purifier using a dry cloth.
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
