I have a Winix AM90 and just got a Levoit Vital 200S-P. I like the Levoit more, more features, better app and slicker buttons/interface. They both have a filter and fan, they seem roughly the same so far.
The c545 doesn’t have an ESP in it. The guide I followed has you add the ESP.
Looks like there are quite a few supported models. Winix C610, AM90, HR1000, C909, T800, 5510, and 9800.
https://github.com/iprak/winix
https://github.com/mill1000/esphome-winix-c545?tab=readme-ov-file
I feel like I could have written this post myself! I did a lot of research over this past weekend, considering all three you listed. This is where I ended up:
The coway airmega 400S for a big open-ish room that also has two windows. This one specificallh is $500+ so out of your price range but the best version I came across.
The winix AM90 for a medium sized room, under $200. Based on my research it seems like their technology does not havw harmful ionizer and yes it can be turned off. This is personally helpful for me because there would be times I would like to use the ionizer when I am not actively in the room.
Leviot viral 200SP, under $200, claims it is still HEPA allegedly. Would love to know others thoughts here, and honestly with the above too.
Most air purifiers should be good; Levoit, Winix (my favorite), and Coway. I will suggest as another cat owner is getting air purifiers that capture the big stuff like cat hair and things that clog up the filter fast. I know WINIX AM90 has the mesh prefilter like they do on air conditioners and you can simply take a vacuum to it. Otherwise the HEPA filter will get clogged so fast with cat hair.
I think my original Winix is 13 years old now. Everything still works even though we have a newer purifier we added for the living room. Very quiet too in medium fan setting.
We have four cats and the filters get clogged fast so you definitely want something that has easy-to-clean mesh like Winix AM90 as an example that you can wash the pre-filter screen you find on air conditioners. Otherwise, HEPA filters and other filters get clogged really fast. You wouldn't think cat hair travels a lot but dust and other debris will clog it up rather quickly so keep that in mind.
HEPA for sure will be your priority. If smell is not an issue, you probably don't need the carbon filter and most are just thin ones that don't filter a lot of odor long-term.
Winix, Coway, and Levoit are popular brands. I love our Winix. Had them for years but if that one breaks, we'll probably get more modern one with better pre-filter. So much hair/fur😹
FartFactory92
