Each time, the Sans blinks and signals an upward motion, telling us where the air impurities were. It has a HEPA 13 medical grade filter, which is said to remove 99.97% of air bacteria. It’s particularly amazing in winter, when the last thing you want to do is keep the windows open for the freezing cold air to clear everything out. In terms of the technology, Coway’s unit has a four filtration system, which in and of itself is kind of incredible. Then, the second layer involves capturing the small particles that made it through. The third layer is carbon activated, which means it can extract carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals from the air.
The Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier is a true stand-out if you’re buying a purifier based solely on price and the presence of a HEPA filter. That said, if you have some wiggle room with cost, you may want to look at other options that cover a larger space and
offer more features. The LV-H132’s instructions say it should be used in rooms smaller than 126 square feet, which isn’t very large. Though both cost more than twice the price of the Levoit, they triple and quadruple your coverage area respectively.
His apartment has become a de facto HouseFresh test lab where he pits the latest clean air technology against the perils of city center life. When he’s not putting a purifier through its paces, Paul likes to endlessly dig through dusty record shops (making his dust-free apartment even more important). In 2017, we tested the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link HP02 for particulate performance in the lab and in our real-world New York apartment. It offers two distinct fan functions—diffuse and focused—and we tested it on both functions in the lab and in the real world. John Holecek further tested it for VOC removal in the lab, considering that Dyson had implemented an upgrade of its VOC filter since our 2016 test of its predecessor. In every case the HP02 offered disappointing performance relative to our top pick.
This model is far more expensive to run, as well, requiring a $70 replacement filter every eight months (versus $50 once a year for the AP-1512HH) on top of its much higher energy consumption. At that fan speed, however, it’s far too loud for anyone to make conversation or watch TV nearby. Having that power available for an emergency situation, such as a nearby wildfire, is nice, but for everyday use you would probably want to run the machine on lower speeds and in a smaller room—350 square feet or so. With a CADR of 350 cubic feet per minute on high for smoke, pollen, and dust, it handily outdraws most purifiers in its price range and many competitors that cost far more. On its quiet/medium setting, it delivers performance at a CADR of 231 for smoke, pollen, and dust—roughly what the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty offers on high.
A model that scores well for dust removal should perform comparably for pollen. The Levoit LV-PUR131S is an excellent option for those looking for a powerful machine, capable of cleaning the air in a medium-sized room. With a pre-filter, H13 HEPA, and Activated Carbon filter under the hood, this unit makes light work of ultrafine particles, capturing 99.97% of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. If you simply need to remove particulates from your air in a large space, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is easier to live with—it’s quieter, smaller, and better looking, which is why it’s our main pick for large spaces. If you have specific concerns about VOCs, the HM400 is by far the best portable air purifier we’ve ever found. However, it has excellent clean air delivery rate (CADR) certifications from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, which in some ways is a more rigorous measurement.
Another filter option is the toxin absorber replacement filter, designed for homes in areas of high smoke or smog. It’s completely perforated around the outside to pull air in from any direction. To keep it at peak performance, you’ll want to ensure no sides are obstructed.