Air purifiers are worth the investment, but they can be expensive to replace. So, if you’re trying to determine if you need a new unit, the first course of action should be changing your filter to see if that solves the problem. The alen file in this repo is an init.d script to run airfilter.py as a daemon. Using a Wi-Fi connection, the BreatheSmart 75i can be connected to the Alen Air app on your smartphone. Unfortunately, integrating it with a smart voice assistant is not possible. The Classic model, on the other hand, does not have any connectivity capabilities.
Maybe once every 12 days, which is a fair trade-off for the quality air it pumps out. One of the worst things about air purifiers is that they are really only useful if you leave them running. After all, the quality of the air in your home changes constantly with different activities and the outdoor air quality. If your purifier is not energy efficient, this can translate to high utility bills.
Are you looking for something portable or do you need a larger unit? Figuring out the ideal size and type of air purifier for your area could aid in slimming down the selection. Proper maintenance and care of your air purifier is essential to ensure it runs efficiently.
But, if you’re after a unit that is better equipped to tackle VOCs straight out of the box or that’s a little less expensive upfront, then there are other options. Beyond the features of the unit, there were two things that really added to its usability. Buying a new $99 filter (or $130 filter for the alen breathesmart upgraded options) once per year is not bad at all in terms of maintenance costs. The filter itself is one piece, which means you have to replace the entire thing at once. Normally, I would see this as a major disadvantage, given that some layers of the filter will naturally last longer than others.
I love their units and their company because they back up their solid products with a lifetime warranty. Most models circulate air through a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, and often more than one. HEPA filters are certified Lasko Box Fan to trap particulate matter as small as 0.3 microns, which covers dust, pollen and most bacteria. Some purifiers boast a medical-grade Hyper-HEPA filter that will go down to 0.003 microns — enough to pick smoke out of the air.
I can tell you from experience that you just don’t see many air purifiers that look half as cool. If you want a device that’s a bit smaller, you should also read our review of the Atmotube portable air pollution monitor. Most air purifiers use between 8 and 130 watts, with the average unit using about 50 watts on standard fan mode. According to my direct measurements, the 75i uses just over 5 watts on low fan speed and only 25 watts on turbo mode. In conjunction with this, the more high-tech air purifiers can employ an extra line of defense.