For some people, deciding on the best air purifier to buy isn’t an easy task. To help in that regard, this Coway AP-1512hh vs Winix 5500-2 comparison will provide you a useful guide.
Should it be the Coway AP-1512HH, a filtration system of four stages that comes along with an ionizer? Or should it be the Winix 5500-2? This one has three stages but comes with PlasmaWave Technology instead.
Disclaimer: The content of this post contains affiliate links that may earn us a commission. This is to support free content creation for this website without affecting the price you pay.
Want to see more questions and answers from previous buyers, check these links below.
One thing you should know is that air is very necessary to stay alive. Therefore, the quality of air in your home matters a lot. Whenever you open your window to let in air, you are also letting several airborne diseases in. Yes, that’s true because the air outside is not purified. It has been contaminated by several things that are harmful to inhale most of the time.
Also, if you keep a pet at home and it sneezes, the germs will diffuse to every part of your house or which you will eventually breathe in.
Other things contribute to unpurified air which is very harmful to your health. To ensure that you are safe by breathing in the clean and fresh air, you need a luxury air purifier. It will not only encourage clean air but will also improve the quality of indoor air.
Other Top Rated Air Purifiers To ConsiderÂ
- Hathaspace Smart True HEPA air purifier
- Alen FLEX air purifier H13
- Coway Airmega 400 smart air purifier
- Winix AM90 Wi-Fi Air Purifier
- NuWave OxyPure Large Area Smart Air Purifier
Now, you may have picked your choice of air purifier, but let us give you the differences in each of their features.
Best Cheap Air Purifier Comparison: The Buying Tips
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the quality of air inside our homes could be about 5 times greater than that of outdoor air.
The main cause of this is the way houses are built, coupled with the different things we bring into our homes which may release contaminated air. There’s also evidence that most Americans spend about 90% of their lives indoors.
This is the more reason why improving the quality of indoor air should be on your to-do list.
However, a lot of people have issues with getting the right air purifier. This is because there are so many in the market today and choosing the right one becomes a difficult task.
To most people, air purifiers are complicated machines and are more complicated to understand. Before buying an air purifier, there are certain points you need to consider. When you are aware of these points, it would help you make a better purchasing decision.
Air Purifier Maintenance Costs
When you maintain your air purifier properly, they tend to be more effective and efficient. Before you go on to purchase an air purifier for your home, you need to ensure that you have a concrete and explicit idea of its maintenance costs.
This is to avoid going for something you cannot maintain.
If you’re buying an air purifier that uses a carbon or HEPA filter, note that it will require steady filter replacements.
The filters filter air, purify it, and trap small particles inside. Eventually, they will get clogged and won’t be able to purify anymore. Well, the filter life will solely depend on how frequently it is used, alongside the air quality surrounding its unit.
Therefore, before buying an air purifier with a carbon or HEPA filter, be sure to check and note how frequently the manufacturer has recommended the filter to be replaced. Note also the cost of replacing it.
Usually, filters last within three months to a year, although it varies. On the other hand, if you choose to buy an iconic air cleaner, then you won’t bother about maintenance costs.
This is because these kinds of machines do not use a degradable filter. Most ionizers have an electrostatic filter that collects toxic particles from the air. The good thing is that they are washable and can be reused. Ionic air purifiers are cost-effective and are easier and cheaper to maintain.
The Air Purifier Noise Level
You also need to consider the noise level of an air purifier before purchase. Usually, air purifiers that use a carbon or HEPA filter to purify air come with a fan mechanism.
It is this fan that draws air into the section where it will be purified. And as you know, all fans make noise but there’s a thing to it. The slower the fan’s speed, the lesser the noise it makes, and the faster the speed, the louder the sound is.
Most air purifiers have two speeds at least which are high and low. Some others come with about five speeds; the low, medium, high, turbo, and then the automatic. You should consider the noise level of an air purifier before buying it. You don’t want that much noise in your bedroom or living room.
Therefore, get an air purifier that is the right size for the particular room you want to use it in.
If you purchase an air purifier that is too small for the size of your room, it will work with higher speeds to amount to what the right size needs to do. This also suggests that the noise will be on its loudest.
Again, it will be mentioned that ionic air cleaners don’t have or use filters. This also means they don’t use fans. In essence, they are silent when in use as there’s never a noise issue with them.
Energy Consumption
Like every other electrical home appliances, air purifiers need electrical energy to work. If this is absent, it cannot work. Because air purifiers need to constantly be in use, you need to consider the amount of energy it will consume before purchasing them.
Usually, air purifiers consume about 5-200 watts of power. You need to buy a device that has an Energy Star rating as this ensures that only the least energy will be used.
Manufacturer Reputation
As technology keeps advancing as the years roll by, so does air pollution. It is no wonder that air purification technology is now being sought after in the global market.
There are so many manufacturers in the world today that produce air purifying products for residential and commercial purposes. However, not all these machines are of high quality.
Before buying an air purifier, you need to put the reputation of the manufacturing company into consideration.
This is to ensure that you see buying an authentic product made from high-quality materials. The companies may go as far as making claims that their products are trustworthy whereas the reverse is the case. This happens because not all countries implement strict regulations concerning air purifiers like in the United States of America and Europe.
A manufacturer that is not in any of the above-mentioned countries may claim that their product has a high level of air filtration but it has been verified or even tested.
Be sure to choose a manufacturer that has a good reputation as this will help you purchase high-quality air purifiers.
Warranty
Before you go on to purchase an air purifier, knowing the manufacturer’s warranty is necessary. It would help you avoid problems that may come up later.
Ensure that you find out the parts covered by the warranty in case they develop faults. You should know that certain appliances are long-term investments and an air purifier is one of such.
As regards this, you should be careful enough to know the warranty because it may likely be needed sometime.
Coway AP-1512hh vs Winix 5500-2 Comparison
This article seeks to compare two highly-rated air purifiers. They are the Coway vs Winix air purifier. These two air purifiers supersede others and are the most common. A lot of people prefer them to others because of their performance and unique designs. Therefore, if you want to purchase an air purifier, let’s help you know which to get.
Coverage Area
Air purifiers to be used in your home are not made to get rid of air pollutants from the entire home. They are specially and specifically designed to work in a certain amount of area, although some can be used in a single room.
Both the Coway and Winix air purifier models have a room coverage area of about 360 square feet. This should be perfect for a standard bedroom, kitchen, apartment, and attic.
Filtration System and Filters
The most important consideration when buying an air purifier is whether the product comes with HEPA filters. This type of filter collects about 99.97% of small particles. It is also very good if you have pets, smoke, or have someone that smokes.
Fortunately, the two models in question have HEPA-grade filters already installed. The only thing is that you need to replace it once in a while. You can’t reach and reuse them when they get clogged with particles.
Remote Control
Winix 5500-2 |
There are different ways to operate an air purifier and remote controlling is one such means. The other is using push buttons. However, using remote controls is more convenient. If you’d like a convenient way of operating your air purifier, then you should go for Winix 5500-2 specs. The remote helps you to turn it off and on and also select tour preferred mode.
Coway AP-1512HH
Its counterpart, Coway AP- 1512HH mighty air purifier with true HEPA does not come with remote control. It also can’t be bought separately.
How to use and control the Coway is by using the buttons which may not be all that convenient for you.
Comparing both of them, using a remote control is convenient but it is not very necessary. Well, it all depends on where you are placing the air purifier and how often you move it. In any case the remote gets lost, you can use the control buttons.
Filtration Stages
Winix 5500-2 |
All air purifiers offer different methods and stages of filtration. However, the commonest will be the pre-filter and main filter (HEPA filter in this case).
The Winix has three filtration stages which are the Advanced Odor Control, HEPA-grade filter, and Winix’s proprietary PlasmaWave Technology. The first makes use of a carbon filter to collect odors, burning from foods and other food mishaps involving odor, and cigarette smoke. The second collects 99.97 percent of particles which are as small as 0.3 microns. Then, the last work more effectively and efficiently at breaking down pollutants.
Coway AP-1512HH
The Coway is much different as it has four different filtration stages. The fourth edition comes as a filter between the pre-filter and the HEPA filter.
Accordingly, the four stages are a pre-filter for collecting large particles, an odor filter for trapping odor-causing particles, the HEPA filter of course, and an ionizer that helps to break down pollutants.
Although this doesn’t mean the four stages work better than the three stages, we have practically found that both appliances perform the same function. This is regarding odor suction and tiny airborne pollutants. This being said, note that the first two stages in Coway are similar and work the same way as the first stage of Winix.
During comparison then, more filtration doesn’t mean there’ll be better air quality.
Portability
Although weight is a common factor to note whether an air purifier is portable or not, it is not the only thing to consider. Other things include footprint as well as the height of the appliance.
Regarding weight, both of them weigh less than 20 pounds. Therefore, carrying them about may not be much of a big deal.
For floor space, the Winix could take up about 15 × 8 inches and about 23 inches tall. On the other hand, The Coway takes up 17 × 10 inches of floor space and is about 18 inches tall.
Both the Winix 5500-2 specs and Coway can be said to be lightweight or portable. If you’re going to be moving your air purifier from one place to another, then you can purchase any of the two.
Timer
Winix 5500-2
One other great feature of using an air purifier is the timer. By making this feature up and running, you can set the appliance to run for a specified time duration before it automatically shuts off. The Winix does not have this feature though, so you’ll need to do the switching when it has shown that your indoor air quality is great. Note that you can still use the remote control to turn off the unit.
Coway AP-1512HH
The Coway, on the other hand, has a timer that runs for a specified time. It could be for one hour, four hours, or even eight. This timer is perfect for running the appliance all night. Before you wake up, the quality of your indoor air should just be right.
Conclusion: The time feature is indeed nice but it is not necessary too. It depends on how you use your air purifier and whether you want to leave it on while you’re at work or asleep.
Alternative Top-Rated Air purifiers To Consider
Honeywell – HPA200
The Honeywell-HPA200 is a very capable air purifier and aside from the Winix and Coway, it is well known too. It is a highly rated air purifier and is among our top picks.
The filter it comes with is very good although Honeywell uses two filters that allow for compatibility across the HOA products.
Each step from the HPA100 right down to HPA300 adds about 155 square capacity feet by putting an additional 6 by 10 filter. Although this is nice, it affects the efficiency of the appliance.
Regarding high speed, the HPA200 is quieter than our top pick but it also has less air. More so, it uses up more power, probably because of the shape of its baffle. Whereas at low speed, the fan moves faster and makes more noise. It still uses up a lot of power. This means that it does more work when it is at its lowest setting.
Levoit – LV-H132
This is a fairly new device in the field of home appliances. Ever since its launch last year, the LV-H132 has been making waves aside from gaining a lot of positive reviews.
It is a quiet device and an attractive one at that. It also has certain features that make it quite a pick. It has a blue night light but can also be switched to a no-light mode for those who want it that way. The filter is also well built and it lasts long.
For the noise aspect, it has already been aforementioned that it is a quiet device. A combination of the lesser noise and power draw from the appliance simply signifies that it doesn’t move much air as other tested devices.
GermGuardian AC4825
This is another top-rated air purifier that you can consider when looking for an air purifier to purchase. The GermGuardian AC4825 is conscious of energy as well as noise and space.
It also has three filtration stages that cover all spheres of household complaints. This includes molds, dust, and pet dander. It has a HEPA filter that is efficient and also effective like that of the high-end models. It also has a UV system that helps to keep germs in check plus a carbon filter that controls odor.
In all, the GermGuardian has a good price tag, a stable and unique filtration system, and other customizable options that make it such a great pick.
If you need a luxury air purifier, then you can go for this.
Cheap Air Purifier Buying Questions And Answers
Is Winix a good air purifier?
The Winix 5500-2 specs is a good purifier for large rooms. This appliance safely and conveniently tackles dust, odors, and allergens. Its capability to handle pollutants and give high-quality indoor air is still one of the best out there.
Does Coway AP 1512hh produce ozone?
This is synonymous with how the Coway AP 1512HH works. Just like other air purifiers, it has a carbon filter and a HEPA filter. But then, it has two extra stages of filtration that most air purifiers don’t have.
There’s a provision for a micro-mesh layer just in front of the carbon layer. Then there is an ionizer after the HEPA filter.
Do air purifiers help with mold?
When it comes to mold air purifiers that are equipped with HEPA fitters, they work very well in eliminating airborne spores.
However, mold spores cannot spread if moisture is absent. If these mold spores in the air are collected by air purifiers, they become trapped by the HEPA filter, thus killing them.
Will an air purifier remove smoke?
Of course, some of the best air purifiers can remove smoke odors. The good thing is that it does not only remove smoke but helps to eliminate toxic chemicals. The air purifier removes smoke by the use of a HEPA filter or activated carbon.
What causes a lot of dust in your house?
Dust is caused by a lot of things, more from fine matter created from airborne particles. It is usually raised from the surface of the ground.
To be able to control dust, you need to clean or change air filters every month. You also need to do a bit of vacuuming if you use carpets because they tend to draw in a lot of dust.
Related: Alen Breathesmart 75i vs Coway Airmega 400S Comparison
Conclusion
We’ve compared the two models and it is safe to say that both the Winix 5500-2 specs and the Coway AP-1512HH air purifiers have a lot of things in common.
First off, they are both special and specifically designed to purify large rooms. Then, they are both portables as they have lightweight. They also don’t take up much floor or air space. Talking about performance, the three stages of Winix work, as well as the four stages of Coway and, use a HEPA filter.
The only difference between the two is the remote control which Coway doesn’t have, although this is not a problem. The remote control helps for more convenient use of the air purifier.
There are so many lessons we’ve learned about the best air purifiers but what gets our attention is the superb qualities and abilities of these machines when putting them in use.
If you live in a home where the outdoor air has bad quality or certain things reduces the quality of your indoor air, then these machines will help you make all the difference.
Follow through the links above and you’ll get more insights by asking specific questions on each product sales page.
Related: Levoit Air Purifier LV-H132 vs Core 300 Comparison
Related: Best Whole House Humidifier Reviews