Winix - 5300-2

I own the 5300-2 and 5500-2, about 7 units total. No noise on any of them running continuously. I can't say the same of the smaller C545 - they're noisy and sound scrapey and unbalanced after a while. I have 3 of those and two are significantly nosier than the rest. They also have a higher pitched sound profile, which is easier to drown out but more annoying if you aren't drowning it out over something else.

There's a guy who did a youtube video on it - essentially the same filters except some of the prefilter and filter depth area is different. Meaning - the carbon pellet prefilter WILL NOT fit the 5300-2/C535. Basically you can try putting the carbon pellet cartridge/rigid filter in - but the mesh prefilter that clips on won't be able to "clear" it and lock into place flatly. If you don't mind a bit of bending or don't care to have a prefilter - it'll "fit". - But the filter can "fall out of place" since nothing is clipping it in. If its installed and the unit is never moved or knocked, the filters will stay in place - suction alone at speeds 3 and above can keep it fairly in place even when knocked around. The C535 and 5300-2 are basically the same. The 5500-2 is where the differences start - since the 5500-2 basically allows you to run any filters you want because it has the filter depth area to hold anything. Performance wise, they "feel" similar; acoustically - you wouldn't be able to tell filter to filter which is which unless one was defective or had something lodged inside the fan. For full disclosure - almost every single unit except for maybe 1 of my C535's are refurbished from Winix (often resold through woot/meh) which is why I have so many. (Usually I get them for $69/ea or less). So the act of "refurbishment" might have saved me from any defective noisy units. That or my batch - all of my 5500/5300's are over 6 years old. A quick check puts 3 of my C535's at 2018 vintage - and these are my newest units of the "5500" series. Summary: \- Remote control differences \- Different Filter Depth acceptance (5500-2 is larger) \- C535/5300-2 is the same \- Same acoustic performance \- Same airflow performance \- Carbon Filter differences

WINIX 5300-2 Air Purifier is also significantly better then the levoit since they have a higher cadr rating this or the 5500 model will be my next one I buy

Yep as far as air purifiers the more the merrier. Especially if you don't want to run them loud. My house currently has 2xc909 2x545 and 1x5300 our air quality is pretty good so the filter lasts but it's great for pollen and other things.

The winix 5500-2, 5300 and the Zero S all work up against a wall as they only pull in air from the front and sides

Winix is pretty popular name in air purifiers - I bought a 5300-2 for $150 and run it night and day. I get a filter pack that lasts me the year of charcoal filter and standard filter. Love it.

I can't speak for the one you posted but these have excellent reviews and we bought one after going through 2 Levoit's that died after 2 years. https://a.co/d/bGPcJpH

That's not a bad deal, especially since it should come with 2 filters. The listing on costco.com shows 2 filters. The Levoit Core 300 may be a slightly better deal. I've had one since Black Friday and so far, it's good. Noise on low is good in my bedroom. My Winix 5300 is almost 14 years old now, so I'm very satisfied with it. The much newer Winix 5500 may be a better choice than the Winix 610 or Levoit Core 300. So if you have the space for it, I would go with the 5500. All of these have reasonable priced replacement filters, so that's good. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these three, don't feel compelled to analyze this for another month! Good luck!

I like Winix. Have had 2 different models both really good. One is a 5500-2 and one is a 5300 I've been using since 2014. Air filters needs changing 1 time per year (when you order the filter it comes with 4 carbon filters to change every 3 months)

Oh yes air purifiers are a must with Greys. We have the Winix 5300-2 and use it on the 2nd highest setting 24/7 (Plasmawave turned OFF) in the main living area. In her bedroom we have a smaller Germguardian "AC4825CA 4-in-1 Air Purifier with True HEPA UV-C" and use it on the lowest setting overnight (UV-C turned OFF). I vacuum the filters weekly and replace the carbon filter monthly and HEPA every 3-6 months depending on how it's looking. I also have a plant stand with some bird-safe houseplants near her large cage as they help with air quality too. I've been for formal allergy testing 3 times over ~25 years and they've always told me I have a feather allergy (among many others). I haven't had any noticeable ill effects, possibly in part to the air purifiers and keeping floors and surfaces clean.

Following this post since I'm in the same situation here (house is about 200ft from highway). From what I read, in addition to what you mentioned, ultra fine particles are also bad. These are below 0.3 micron, and not many monitors can reliably detect it. I was looking into airpura, it's expensive but I'm also hesitant because if there's no reliable way to monitor, how do I know it's making a difference.  Currently I'm running a winix 5300-2 per room, I don't really sense anything negative, but then a lot of these bad particles aren't visible and their impacts won't show up right away Btw, did you see this video as part of your research? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hpJbEbZuBw

My house is 200ft away from highway, and from what I read, it's at high risk for UFP and VOCs. We've been living in the for 2 yrs and as of now, nobody really had any symptoms, but then the effects of UFPs and VOCs would be silent and long term anyway. I'm running a winix 5300-2 in each room, and in the big room i also just made a CR box, but pretty much doing it blindly because I didn't do any testing of the indoor air quality. For the GC-MS analysis you mention, most lab kits would be reliable right? From a quick search, looks like a basic screening would be around $1K in California depending on the package.

Winix 5300-2... Great price, AHAM certified, and quiet at basically any setting under turbo. As long as the space isn't over 350 or so SQ/ft you'd be set.

Recently got 3 Coway 150 and 1 Winix 5300-2. Im really liking the Coway 150, but Winix is good as well.

Coway 150 is in my current room and winix is in other room so I cant say too much. But Coway seems quieter and seem to blow stronger air at max settings. Coway has 3 levels and Winix has 4. But If i were to get more purifier, I'd lean towards Coway. With that said, I believe replacement filter for Winix is more affordable compared to coway. (coway also looks better if you care about the design)

I don't recommend Winix 5500/5300 for the simple fact that it doesn't turn back on automatically when there's a power interruption. 

Winix Plasma Wave is an affordable effective unit. I used three when I lived in a polluted area. I now use it sporadically to clean up the plastic dust and other crap that accumulates in a home

I’ve been using my Winix with Plasmawave since 2019 without issue, and that includes moving about once per year. These units have held up to that. I can tell you they really work. I have a mold allergy, and mold is literally everywhere in outdoor or indoor air with spores just waiting to land in a suitable environment for growth, but I have no symptoms at home with my two small Winix. I also have pets. These reduce any odors from that, and they are at what one might consider end of life for a typical air filter system. 5 years is typical. 10 is incredible. I am not washing the pre-filter nearly as often as I should and am slow to replace the carbon and HEPA filters sometimes, so 5+ is just astounding in my case.

The PlasmaWave I looked at used an ionizer which is a huge no for me.

PlasmaWave is just a glorified ionizer. I personally cannot stand the scent of ionizers, it gives me headaches.

You want a HEPA filter and actual activated carbon granules-sometimes the activated carbon is just a paper thin layer-not doing much. For cost, consider replacement filter costs not just up front ones. I also like ones that have a sensor so you can leave it on “auto” and it will kick on when you cook or air gets worse without you having to keep track of it. Also don’t splurge on plasma ion or ozone or whatever else-mixed studies show it can react with chemicals to form more dangerous ones at worst and generally not much better at best. Right now you may want to sacrifice optimality for actually having something going to clean your air since it’s a time of high uncertainty. What’s in stock at home depot may be superior to the “best” air purifier that arrives in 2 weeks. Those caveats-no one can give better advice based on “feel” than what’s tests show-and wirecutter actually tested performance https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-air-purifier/ . If you prefer anecdotes, here are some of my experiences: Winnix has been in stock at home depot. I evacuated with my air purifier and I needed something to leave during cleaning to try and detox my pasadena apartment. It was in stock and had hepa+carbon-it seems to be working. Oransi is the one I evacuated with, love the looks, it really seems to work well, lots of aftermarket filters available-downside is that sleep mode sets fan speed to auto, I want it to just turn lights off and leave the fan mode. But It has lasted at least 6+ years. Levoit is what was at the apartment I evacuated to. It seems a little less powerful per dollar spent than my oransi, but it’s night mode turns off the lights while still letting you set the fan speed. My roommate left a Coway going in his room and that thing worked very well to prevent any smoke smell from settling, and it’s highly recommended by wirecutter. If I had to buy right now and I could get one in a reasonable timeline, it’s how I would go.

Any filter with a charcoal filter layer will help some (Winix is one brand commonly available at Costco…I also have a more elaborate Rowenta)…my Winix came with multiple charcoal layer replacements. Dealing with total incontinence here, and not to criticize your MILs efforts, but you might want to look into the actual sources of the odors. Chairs, clothes that sit around waiting for wash, previously soaked furniture or carpet? If bedding or fabric furniture smells and you can replace it, do so. I use a combo of Depends on my father, and all his sleeping or seating surfaces have a first layer of puppy pee pads (Costco has large ones that work well and are cheap), and then a fabric layer on top (whether sheets or a chair cover or towel, tucked into the sides of the chair). Once he’s wet, after I changes his pants all clothes and chair covers and bedding goes in the wash (3-5 loads a day).  For the mattress you can find on Amazon washable mattress covers (the whole bed ones don’t work that well but that’s my base layer and then a thicker more absorbent one that I fit across the middle section of his bed, and on top of that layered dog pee pads).  So again, not sure if any of this advice helps but this method works for me.

I have 2 Winix HEPAs that have been running 24/7 for 6+ years. I clean the screen every week or so, replace the carbon every month, and the HEPA every ~8 months.