Winix - 5300-2

This is super insightful - everyone should follow this. Tons of filters perform but absolutely guzzle electricity. The Winix 5300-2 / C535 eats about 60ish watts on full bore. (Maybe a use case for some - I run mine at max). At 13 cents per kwh, running 24/7 - thats $6.03 PER MONTH. And I run quite a few of these. Running the filter at lower settings consumes significantly less power but filters less as well (but might be more efficient at lower settings). I've had Winix filters for over a decade now, and a more efficient filter can easily pay for itself over years of usage; or purely just be 20% cheaper when you're running 6-7 of them in a household (I run one per bedroom, and 1-2 per shared space - such as the kitchen/family room combo and the dining room). The real thing is - most common filters do run more or less around the same power. There's enough variation that its worth investigating power usage if you're planning on running over half a dozen of them (like for a 1700-4000sq ft house); and there are outliers out there such as very restrictive filters being compensated by using extremely high power fans - or filters that have non fan technology such as ionizers or UV lights. But if you're just grabbing one for the bed room and running it on low, the difference in power usage is going to amount to maybe 50 cents to $1 extra per month. Tangible depending on the extremes, but might not be significant.

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 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 have a Winix 5300-2. The air filter specs (.01 Micron) retention size meets most anything you can possibly buy even if you spent several grand. You can check Amazon for complete pricing and specifications. This particular unit is rated at 99.97 percent allergon filtering at 360 sq ft. Smoke odor, perfume is something that requires tons of large carbon filter for area filtration. This will not completely scrub odors from smoke and perfumed filled environments. The filters are a HEPA three piece design. It does have a carbon filter that does a great job at cleaning most odors. The purpose of the unit is for dust etc, however it will clean some odors. The plasma feature is recommended to NOT be used by most pulmonologists. That feature can and should be turned off. The cost of the complete unit with filters is comfortable at less than $200. I bought mine for my bedroom to clean the air I breathe when I sleep. I did not get the remote control option, which occasionally could be a small benefit. I run it on low at all times, but occasionally need to turn it up when cooking odors are extremely strong and higher air movement is needed. It helps keep odors lowered in some situations. That being said, the lowest setting you run any air filter is the longer and better chance it has to collect particles. The replacement filters are low cost and I just bought a true Winix brand set at half price on Amazon. I had major problems with dust etc when I slept before I bought this. This absolutely made a world of difference. The amp draw is extremely minimal, so if you were so inclined, you can get an AC to DC cigarette lighter adapter for about 25 bucks that would allow you to use it in the car. As with anything, you need to just simply "Google" the item you are looking for, such as room air filters, compare the differences to make an informed decision on the exact specifications different units offer, along with pricing details. Many companies will offer first time buyers introduction prices that are crazy low. Do your shopping to find the best product and price that meets your expectations. Higher price is not equal to better filter, it may simply mean more flashing lights (bells and whistles). Be careful to not get caught up in a lot of terminology that sounds exclusive and necessary, but rather what the unit actually is doing for you, such as being used for odors, or allergies. Above all, stay away from plasma units, unless it can be turned off, especially if you have allergies. Carbon is the filter that does the most for odors. The HEPA filter is primarily for the micro dust particles. Most units have a washable pre-filter, a carbon filter(s) and finally a "paper" type HEPA filter. The lower speed a particle is passing through a filter, the more chances it has at being caught. This applies to fuel filters in your car, water filters for your home etc.

Get the WINIX 5300-2 from Home Depot

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!

A good purifier will definitely collect stuff from the air, but only from the area immediately around the air purifier. You will still have a lot of dust and stuff even in the same room as the purifier, but the filters will also be loaded with crap before long, so you can see that it actually is doing something. You may need several for the same room where you're most concerned about the air quality. The small ones don't do much of anything. You would likely need something like a Winix 5300, 5500, C535, C545 etc. Not sure where you're located, but Costco often has some of them at good prices. If you get one without defects, they're quiet, filters are cheap, and they are often mentioned as the most highest rated air purifiers because of filtration efficiency and affordable price. They're also power efficient. I've also had good luck with Honeywell, despite a lot of people not liking them. The quality has gone downhill in recent years, and they use a lot of electricity compared to the Winix, but they are very efficient at filtration because of their higher speeds. They tend to be on the louder side, and they have only a single pre-filter instead of two. Generally you want to get the largest unit you can get. If on the rare chance it ends up being too large for the room, you can just run it at a lower speed. The smaller ones really won't do very much for you, even if they claim to fit the square footage of the room you're placing it in. You should also make sure the vacuum is a high quality bagged vacuum using multi-layered bags, such as Miele or Sebo. Cheap bagged vacuums, and almost all bagless vacuums will put dust back into the air. The Miele bags act as the filter and have something like 9 layers of filter material so you know that what you suck up stays sucked up. My suggestion would be to pick up a Winix unit and put in your bedroom and start there. But first, give it a good vac and damp wipe surfaces and floors to gather dust and dander. Then run the purifier with the door closed as often as possible.

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.

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.

I like my winix 5300. Replacement filters aren't too expensive either. I use it for my bedroom and run it all the time pretty much.

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. 

Neither of these units has a carbon grid and both cost more than a 5500-2, I’d rather just turn plasmawave off and keep using the better unit. ;)

So the 5500-2 routinely is under $150 at Amazon, sometimes as low as $125. It outperforms the D360 in every way, and never costs more. It also has filters that - for the same replacement cost - include a carbon grid, and that carbon grid supports an optional pet filter. (Which might also work on the carbon sheets iin the D360 or D480, to be fair). The D480 has a higher CADR, absolutely. For 50% more money it has 50% more CADR. That's ... linear, and great for the price (you won't find another unit for under $250 with a CADR that high) if you don't need or want a carbon grid or plasmawave. These are, in fact, great units. But Winix, like every other brand, is suffering from the "6 units in the same price range that all look identical" disease, and only the 5500-2 continues to offer all of what I personally recommend in a purifier - washable screen, carbon grid before the HEPA filter, optional pet filter, optional ionizing. All for under $150 with filter replacements at $50 apiece from Winix, or half that from third parties. You did a great job with the write-up, fear not.

Incorrect - it's identical to the 5300. Which is the 5500-2 equivalent with no carbon grid. Same CADR, same features, no carbon grid. :)

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 love my Winix! Ended up buying one before Costco had them as they were much cheaper than most brands, but actually had really good specs and certifications from everywhere, while also having a large AHAM verification for their square footage. I think I will be buying the Costco one soon for our spare bedroom though! Also if you need a larger size, they have a bigger unit available on Costco's website.

https://ausclimate.com.au/blogs/air-purifier-posts/what-is-winix-plasmawave#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20yes%3B%20Winix',and%20Drug%20Administration%20(FDA). Don't fear monger, Winix even passes California's extremely strict Ozone requirements. Also to the person below this comment, most UV light actually also creates Ozone, and is also not very effective in helping clean the air at all. At best UV light only kills the bacteria on the filter, provided it's actually exposed.

Did you try turning off Plasmawave? I found that was the cause for my Winix models rather than a mechanical fan issue.

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.