Nice review. For this size of the HEPA filter, the CCM (Cumulate Clean Mas) will be low, so it add a layer of pre-filter to stop some large particulate and to raise the CCM. But what is annoying that pre-filter at this aperture will be clogged very often. Users have to clean it very often, if they remember.
Yeah they say every 14 days in the manual which does seem a lot more than what I have seen with other devices. Looking at all the dirty air purifier pre filters on TikTok it’s clear consumers forgot to ever clean their pre filter! Just unboxed your device today btw so will post that video soon! Thanks for checking out the channel.
I'd rather clean pre-filters than replace the HEPA and carbon filters more often. "Everyone wants to create and destroy but nobody wants do do maintenance." -me
Unfortunately I don't think you can buy separate carbon Winix filters, at least OEM ones. So practically speaking there's not a real financial benefit as you'd have to always buy both the HEPA and carbon filter together. But correct me if I'm wrong!
I never realised that but yes it does seem that you can only buy in packs with both. I suppose at least you do have the option to run without the carbon with this approach vs the bonded filter that if the carbon starts to smell you are forced to replace the whole filter.
I got the idea reading Amazon review comments from customers of the Philip 3000i as they tried unsuccessfully to cut out the carbon part as it was smelling .
Great Vid. (I watched, didn't comment and now that I have one ...) Just got this for my allergies and the life improvement is noticeable--I can't believe I waited so long to get one and I've never slept so well during allergy season. The "air quality" light is misleading though--it tells you the air quality at the device not in the room. When pollen is really bad (usually in the morning or the hottest part of the afternoon) it will report clean air but there will still be traces of pollen (enough to be annoying but significantly less than not using the purifier). I use night mode and when I get up the first thing I do is turn it to 2 or 3, regardless of the air quality indicator, for about 20 minutes to get it "caught up" with the morning explosion of pollen. ...I never turn the thing on or off (just night mode and auto usually) but the "turn on" noise sounds exactly like the McDonalds jingle (you can't un-hear it, you're welcome).
So great to hear that it’s working for you and thanks for reporting back! I have read that it’s a gas sensor vs particle which might explain what you’re seeing. For pollen season it might be easier to leave it on a speed that is not too loud so it will continue to remove even if the sensor isn’t activated. Now you have said it is the McDonald’s sound I can’t unhear it ! Thank you haha lol Glad the review was helpful and keep me updated how you get on with it.
@@HouseFresh At the time of this comment the replacement filter packs for the 5522-2 and Airmega 150 are identical on Amazon. The Airmega unit is 50USD more expensive than the Winix but the Winix is quieter on the lowest setting (which matters a lot to me). The Winix has cleanable carbon filters where the Airmega carbon filters must be replaced but come in a 2-pack with the HEPA filter instead of one per HEPA like the Winix. For the extra 50USD it would cost me to buy the Conway I can buy a 2 pack of additional filters (That's two extra years of filters) for the Winix and the Winix is going to be quieter on the low setting and equivalent for everything else that matters.
I'm debating whether or not to get this unit or the Levoit vital 200s. After some research it looks like the vital does not have true hepa filters and that the Levoit filters are both carbon/hepa combo, meaning you will have to throw out both when one goes. However the does have an app and seems to be a bit more efficient. I see the vital 200s is on sale for about 239$ (cad) and the 5500-2 is 220$. Which one should I choose?
the separate air filters is appealing to me since i would put this in the cat room. i don’t mind cleaning the pre-filter often if it will preserve the life of the hepa filter. and i like the separate carbon filter too. I’m curious about how effective is this device with odor control? i know i’d probably have to replace the carbon filter often since it will be near litterboxes, and im okay with that, but I wonder if it’s enough carbon to tackle tough pet odors?
It should do and you can enable the plasmawave on and that should help a little with odors also. At the prime day price it’s worth testing as very high carbon devices cost upwards of $600+ so would be good if you can deal with it using a much cheaper device . Let me know how you get on!
I have one coming out for the Zero S, which seems very similar as it can use the same filters and has the same performance metrics. Looking more closely at the Winix product line, it seems the Winix 5500-2 internals are a base for many different models, including the Winix 9800, which looks a little nicer and has app support, which the 5500-2 doesn't have. The big benefit is that the filters can be used across all of them, which means lower costs and more options for generic filters. The Winix Zero Pro does seem a little different as it has a higher CADR and uses the T filters vs H that the 5500-2 and Zero S use. All this to say that I do want to get the Zero Pro soon for testing as it looks a very interesting device and will mean I have covered the main Winix offerings.
@@HouseFresh Hello mate! Reading your comments, I somewhat wish I had waited for your reply and not order the Zero Pro last night... I really wanted the closest thing there is to the 5500-2 which would totally meet our needs... however not available in the EU. The main plus as well would have been with the filters, like you stated, to keep cost down whilst keeping efficiency. So you would say the Zero-S is virtually the same in terms of performances? It was so confusing to obtain conclusive info out there !
@@gillywaxmania2632 Sorry I wish I had our Zero-S review out sooner! From my testing the Winix Zero S seems to to have the same performance as the Winix 5500-2 as it completed our test in the same time and uses the same filter H. Be aware that there are some models that do have the impregnated carbon filters like the Winix Zero-Se you find at costco.co.uk but you can when you replace the filters move to the filter H with the better carbon (i checked this with Winix customer services) The name differences between countries doesn't make it easy so I can understand your confusion. The Zero Pro has a higher CADR but that might not be required for your use case and would depend on how much extra it cost over the Zero S. I will make sure we include details in our Winix Zero S review to make it clear its an alternative to the Winix 5500-2 in the EU/UK.
@@HouseFresh No need to be sorry :) Very appreciate the insights! When will your Zero S review be out? Winix Europe does sell the ZERO-S with Filter H in a bundle at a very interesting price point. The Filter T present in the Zero Pro retails at the same price as the Filter H and seems to possess the honeycomb carbon filter also!
Do you have the CADR for each fan speed without the PlasmaWave? Also, can you compare it to the CADRs of the Levoit Vital 200s? I really need an air purifier to hopefully get rid of my allergy issues. I currently have the Lasko fan with filter box, and that is complete crap.
Not yet but we are working on it for all devices as we have had this requested a lot. What is the size of the room you want to keep the air clean? This and Levoit Vital 200s are pretty similar when it comes to performance at top fan speed.
I own this i believe works great want another 2 not sure if wanna grab 2 more of these. 1 for room and other for other side of living space ... winix 5500-2 vs air doctor 3000 whats your opinion? Also mine didnt come with a remote sadly 😢
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! The air doctor is good but the filter costs are too high for me. Long term you will find it much better value with the Winix 5500-2 devices.
@HouseFresh all good no worries.... was about to grab an air doctor but something draws me back to the winix so picked up another winix.. it's just so old looking to me haha I have sonos surround sound and if you've ever seen the subs they look so futuristic to me the design so it throws off my modern look . Srry for no punctuations and run on sentences ..... but I gotcha on cost of filters didn't tale that into consideration jist wanted to see how much better air doctor would be but I will be buying a bigger one eventually maybe air doctor 5000 5500 or whatever model it is I forgot... the winox definitely does work I check and clean the fine screen daily idk why . But I check it amd clean it often to hopefully get longer life out the machine and other filters but I have it a yr and it definitely cleans up the air on my 2nd filter I did clean the carbon filter one time just feel even though it says washable I shouldn't have washed it ... all the black carbon came off so felt it wasn't working the same . But have a great day share any other thoughts ... stay safe you amd your family thanks for replying ...
Depends on size of room but in general I like to suggest medium sized unit like this Winix, the Coway ap1512hh or Levoit vital 200s . As they are larger you can run them at lower fan speeds for quieter running.
It’s a little different in design than the c545 which is a bit smaller and uses the cheaper carbon as the 5300-2. But the c555 looks like the same dimension ina different color.
@@HouseFresh i was looking at that c545 with 2 years worth of filters from costco for $130 vs the 5500-2 at $132 on amazon. Would carbon filter be worth the cost difference? is there any performance difference between the 2?
Good morning, please can you help I have just bought a Levoit LV-128, but now looking at a lot of your reviews I may have picked the wrong one, another one i am interested in is the Winix A332, I suffer from COPD so i am sure one of air purifiers would help me, it is not to late to send back Levoit, I look forward to your reply.
The Winix A332 should be a much better option than the LV-128, it was much quicker at removing PM1 from our test room. Just be aware it’s still a small device so might not be suited to bigger spaces. What size is the room you want to use it in?
It will be mainly be used in my bedroom which is 12 x12ft but downstairs it is one big room 24 x12ft with a small kitchen off 8 x7ft my wife is Chinese so lots of things in the kitchen, thank you for your quick response
@@davelove5385 Another one to look at is the Phillips 800 I tested today and it did well , 35 minutes to clean and seems a well built device. No carbon as standard or any scheduling functions.
@@Christofer777 Likely not as quick as that. I did some basic desk research and the this device has higher CADR 294 cfm vs 243 for the Winix. It doesn't have a removal pre-filter but does have app support. Filters seem to be well stocked and not excessive price. Sensor looks and screen looks to be better than the Winix so depends on how much you value that and if you are willing to pay more for them. Another one to consider in the EU would be the winixeurope.eu/air-purifiers/winix-air-purifier-zero-s/ I tested it and it performed as well as the Winix 5500-2 and was much cheaper here in the UK - £149 from Costco. What price are you seeing for the Xiaomi?
I dont know whether to go with this or the vital 200s. Its driving me insane. It would be better if they make the air intake grill as wide as the filters instead of just in the middle just 6 inches wide adding resistance to the fan intake and particle intake. But i dont like how wide the unit is on the 200s and the white color. They have the 200s for 160 and this unit for 130 on Amazon right now
The ions will make the particle heavier so I assume that if they are not picked up by the fan they will be more likely to build up on other surfaces. I have seen a similar thing with Blueair devices that get extra dirty on the outside of the case: smartairfilters.com/en/blog/blueair-air-purifiers-review-ionizer-ozone/ So the heavy articles stick to the nearest surface which might not be the particle filter.
I've been reading that at night time it auto turns on sleep mode and basically doesn't work all night or when dark. They say the fan barely spins and doesn't move any air. I need this device to clean the air when I'm sleeping. That's the most important time I need the air purifier to work. If it doesn't work at night what's the point? If this is true this is almost pretty much a no go. Do you know anything about this?
Yes this is an annoying feature when using the auto-mode. It will only not go to sleep if it detects light. The only solution is not use the auto-mode and use it at on manual speed 1 or 2 instead of auto.
![Eminem - Fuel (Shady Edition) feat. Westside Boogie & GRIP [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k1OquBida9s/mqdefault.jpg)
Nice review. For this size of the HEPA filter, the CCM (Cumulate Clean Mas) will be low, so it add a layer of pre-filter to stop some large particulate and to raise the CCM. But what is annoying that pre-filter at this aperture will be clogged very often. Users have to clean it very often, if they remember.
Yeah they say every 14 days in the manual which does seem a lot more than what I have seen with other devices. Looking at all the dirty air purifier pre filters on TikTok it’s clear consumers forgot to ever clean their pre filter! Just unboxed your device today btw so will post that video soon! Thanks for checking out the channel.
I'd rather clean pre-filters than replace the HEPA and carbon filters more often.
"Everyone wants to create and destroy but nobody wants do do maintenance."
-me
@@TurboLoveTrain 100% agree! Plus performance can be reduced by 40% with dirty filters.
Just bought 2 of these, thanks for the in-depth review
Glad it was useful and hope you enjoy your new air purifiers!
Unfortunately I don't think you can buy separate carbon Winix filters, at least OEM ones. So practically speaking there's not a real financial benefit as you'd have to always buy both the HEPA and carbon filter together. But correct me if I'm wrong!
I never realised that but yes it does seem that you can only buy in packs with both.
I suppose at least you do have the option to run without the carbon with this approach vs the bonded filter that if the carbon starts to smell you are forced to replace the whole filter.
@@HouseFresh That's a great point. Maybe after 6 months or so toss the carbon filter and keep the HEPA until you replace it.
I got the idea reading Amazon review comments from customers of the Philip 3000i as they tried unsuccessfully to cut out the carbon part as it was smelling .
Great Vid. (I watched, didn't comment and now that I have one ...)
Just got this for my allergies and the life improvement is noticeable--I can't believe I waited so long to get one and I've never slept so well during allergy season.
The "air quality" light is misleading though--it tells you the air quality at the device not in the room. When pollen is really bad (usually in the morning or the hottest part of the afternoon) it will report clean air but there will still be traces of pollen (enough to be annoying but significantly less than not using the purifier). I use night mode and when I get up the first thing I do is turn it to 2 or 3, regardless of the air quality indicator, for about 20 minutes to get it "caught up" with the morning explosion of pollen.
...I never turn the thing on or off (just night mode and auto usually) but the "turn on" noise sounds exactly like the McDonalds jingle (you can't un-hear it, you're welcome).
So great to hear that it’s working for you and thanks for reporting back! I have read that it’s a gas sensor vs particle which might explain what you’re seeing. For pollen season it might be easier to leave it on a speed that is not too loud so it will continue to remove even if the sensor isn’t activated. Now you have said it is the McDonald’s sound I can’t unhear it ! Thank you haha lol
Glad the review was helpful and keep me updated how you get on with it.
One thing to note, remember to keep that pre filter clean . At least every few weeks especially if lots of pollen.
I was considering the 5500-2 but ended up going with Airmega 150. Similar spec but more cost effective.
I do also like the Coway airmega 150 but did find a little less powerful than the winix 5500-2 .
@@HouseFresh
At the time of this comment the replacement filter packs for the 5522-2 and Airmega 150 are identical on Amazon.
The Airmega unit is 50USD more expensive than the Winix but the Winix is quieter on the lowest setting (which matters a lot to me).
The Winix has cleanable carbon filters where the Airmega carbon filters must be replaced but come in a 2-pack with the HEPA filter instead of one per HEPA like the Winix.
For the extra 50USD it would cost me to buy the Conway I can buy a 2 pack of additional filters (That's two extra years of filters) for the Winix and the Winix is going to be quieter on the low setting and equivalent for everything else that matters.
Can you please make a review of the winix c545 😊 thanks
Need to do a video but have a web version: housefresh.com/winix-c545/
Nice review!
Thanks! 😊
On off switch breaks after a few years of daily use. On my third one now. It does what it says on the tin.
Damn that’s annoying maybe a different switch is needed for future versions.
@@embodie_breaks7089 thanks for this tip will be sure to include it with the web version of this review, thank you!🙏
So did you buy a whole new unit or did winix replace it?
@@robkelley1311winix has a very short warranty like 1 or 2 years
I'm debating whether or not to get this unit or the Levoit vital 200s. After some research it looks like the vital does not have true hepa filters and that the Levoit filters are both carbon/hepa combo, meaning you will have to throw out both when one goes. However the does have an app and seems to be a bit more efficient. I see the vital 200s is on sale for about 239$ (cad) and the 5500-2 is 220$. Which one should I choose?
the separate air filters is appealing to me since i would put this in the cat room. i don’t mind cleaning the pre-filter often if it will preserve the life of the hepa filter. and i like the separate carbon filter too. I’m curious about how effective is this device with odor control? i know i’d probably have to replace the carbon filter often since it will be near litterboxes, and im okay with that, but I wonder if it’s enough carbon to tackle tough pet odors?
It should do and you can enable the plasmawave on and that should help a little with odors also. At the prime day price it’s worth testing as very high carbon devices cost upwards of $600+ so would be good if you can deal with it using a much cheaper device . Let me know how you get on!
I just purchased the winix 5500 2 as per recommended by my doctor. Really hope it helps with my asthma and allergies. @@HouseFresh
HR900 or Zero Pro comes with dust sensor too
Interesting, I did read that the Winix sensors detect VOC vs particle but need to do more tests and investigate more to see if that is the case.
Hello there! A test of the Zero Pro would have been great too ! Does it compare to the 5500-2 ? Specs wise it seems so on paper.
I have one coming out for the Zero S, which seems very similar as it can use the same filters and has the same performance metrics.
Looking more closely at the Winix product line, it seems the Winix 5500-2 internals are a base for many different models, including the Winix 9800, which looks a little nicer and has app support, which the 5500-2 doesn't have.
The big benefit is that the filters can be used across all of them, which means lower costs and more options for generic filters.
The Winix Zero Pro does seem a little different as it has a higher CADR and uses the T filters vs H that the 5500-2 and Zero S use.
All this to say that I do want to get the Zero Pro soon for testing as it looks a very interesting device and will mean I have covered the main Winix offerings.
Just ordered the Zero Pro, will test next week and can let you know how it does?
@@HouseFresh Hello mate! Reading your comments, I somewhat wish I had waited for your reply and not order the Zero Pro last night... I really wanted the closest thing there is to the 5500-2 which would totally meet our needs... however not available in the EU. The main plus as well would have been with the filters, like you stated, to keep cost down whilst keeping efficiency.
So you would say the Zero-S is virtually the same in terms of performances? It was so confusing to obtain conclusive info out there !
@@gillywaxmania2632 Sorry I wish I had our Zero-S review out sooner! From my testing the Winix Zero S seems to to have the same performance as the Winix 5500-2 as it completed our test in the same time and uses the same filter H. Be aware that there are some models that do have the impregnated carbon filters like the Winix Zero-Se you find at costco.co.uk but you can when you replace the filters move to the filter H with the better carbon (i checked this with Winix customer services)
The name differences between countries doesn't make it easy so I can understand your confusion. The Zero Pro has a higher CADR but that might not be required for your use case and would depend on how much extra it cost over the Zero S.
I will make sure we include details in our Winix Zero S review to make it clear its an alternative to the Winix 5500-2 in the EU/UK.
@@HouseFresh No need to be sorry :) Very appreciate the insights! When will your Zero S review be out?
Winix Europe does sell the ZERO-S with Filter H in a bundle at a very interesting price point.
The Filter T present in the Zero Pro retails at the same price as the Filter H and seems to possess the honeycomb carbon filter also!
Do you have the CADR for each fan speed without the PlasmaWave?
Also, can you compare it to the CADRs of the Levoit Vital 200s? I really need an air purifier to hopefully get rid of my allergy issues. I currently have the Lasko fan with filter box, and that is complete crap.
Not yet but we are working on it for all devices as we have had this requested a lot.
What is the size of the room you want to keep the air clean? This and Levoit Vital 200s are pretty similar when it comes to performance at top fan speed.
I own this i believe works great want another 2 not sure if wanna grab 2 more of these. 1 for room and other for other side of living space ... winix 5500-2 vs air doctor 3000 whats your opinion? Also mine didnt come with a remote sadly 😢
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
The air doctor is good but the filter costs are too high for me. Long term you will find it much better value with the Winix 5500-2 devices.
@HouseFresh all good no worries.... was about to grab an air doctor but something draws me back to the winix so picked up another winix.. it's just so old looking to me haha I have sonos surround sound and if you've ever seen the subs they look so futuristic to me the design so it throws off my modern look . Srry for no punctuations and run on sentences ..... but I gotcha on cost of filters didn't tale that into consideration jist wanted to see how much better air doctor would be but I will be buying a bigger one eventually maybe air doctor 5000 5500 or whatever model it is I forgot... the winox definitely does work I check and clean the fine screen daily idk why . But I check it amd clean it often to hopefully get longer life out the machine and other filters but I have it a yr and it definitely cleans up the air on my 2nd filter I did clean the carbon filter one time just feel even though it says washable I shouldn't have washed it ... all the black carbon came off so felt it wasn't working the same . But have a great day share any other thoughts ... stay safe you amd your family thanks for replying ...
What air filter would you recommend for dorm rooms?
Depends on size of room but in general I like to suggest medium sized unit like this Winix, the Coway ap1512hh or Levoit vital 200s . As they are larger you can run them at lower fan speeds for quieter running.
Good vid. What do you think of the 5300-2.
A good device and very similar but default comes with lower quality carbon filter.
@@HouseFresh thank you
I wonder if this is the same as the winix c545
It’s a little different in design than the c545 which is a bit smaller and uses the cheaper carbon as the 5300-2. But the c555 looks like the same dimension ina different color.
@@HouseFresh i was looking at that c545 with 2 years worth of filters from costco for $130 vs the 5500-2 at $132 on amazon. Would carbon filter be worth the cost difference? is there any performance difference between the 2?
@@jonl6406 Sorry for late reply. For me I would prefer the activated charcoal pellet filter you get with this for the extra $2.
Great video, bro!!
What are your thoughts Winix 5500-2 or Medify 40 ??
Medify is too high running costs so would
Chose the Winix 😅
Good morning, please can you help I have just bought a Levoit LV-128, but now looking at a lot of your reviews I may have picked the wrong one, another one i am interested in is the Winix A332, I suffer from COPD so i am sure one of air purifiers would help me, it is not to late to send back Levoit, I look forward to your reply.
The Winix A332 should be a much better option than the LV-128, it was much quicker at removing PM1 from our test room. Just be aware it’s still a small device so might not be suited to bigger spaces. What size is the room you want to use it in?
It will be mainly be used in my bedroom which is 12 x12ft but downstairs it is one big room 24 x12ft with a small kitchen off 8 x7ft my wife is Chinese so lots of things in the kitchen, thank you for your quick response
The other one I have been looking at is the Winix Zero compact i think this would be better
@@davelove5385 Another one to look at is the Phillips 800 I tested today and it did well , 35 minutes to clean and seems a well built device. No carbon as standard or any scheduling functions.
Thank you very much, I will also look at the Phillips 800,
is it better than XIAOMI Smart Air Purifier 4 Pro EU Air Purifier? What would u choose?
It tested yet but will be soon.
@@HouseFresh in a week?
@@Christofer777 Likely not as quick as that.
I did some basic desk research and the this device has higher CADR 294 cfm vs 243 for the Winix. It doesn't have a removal pre-filter but does have app support. Filters seem to be well stocked and not excessive price. Sensor looks and screen looks to be better than the Winix so depends on how much you value that and if you are willing to pay more for them.
Another one to consider in the EU would be the winixeurope.eu/air-purifiers/winix-air-purifier-zero-s/ I tested it and it performed as well as the Winix 5500-2 and was much cheaper here in the UK - £149 from Costco. What price are you seeing for the Xiaomi?
@@HouseFresh Thank u so much for this information, i will look closely. Really appreciate!
I dont know whether to go with this or the vital 200s. Its driving me insane. It would be better if they make the air intake grill as wide as the filters instead of just in the middle just 6 inches wide adding resistance to the fan intake and particle intake. But i dont like how wide the unit is on the 200s and the white color. They have the 200s for 160 and this unit for 130 on Amazon right now
I need to do a vs video as I’m sure you can’t be the only one deciding between these two models.
Why does plasmawave create dust build up? Isnt that the point of the plasmawave to get rid of the dust?
The ions will make the particle heavier so I assume that if they are not picked up by the fan they will be more likely to build up on other surfaces. I have seen a similar thing with Blueair devices that get extra dirty on the outside of the case: smartairfilters.com/en/blog/blueair-air-purifiers-review-ionizer-ozone/ So the heavy articles stick to the nearest surface which might not be the particle filter.
I've been reading that at night time it auto turns on sleep mode and basically doesn't work all night or when dark. They say the fan barely spins and doesn't move any air. I need this device to clean the air when I'm sleeping. That's the most important time I need the air purifier to work. If it doesn't work at night what's the point? If this is true this is almost pretty much a no go. Do you know anything about this?
Yes this is an annoying feature when using the auto-mode. It will only not go to sleep if it detects light. The only solution is not use the auto-mode and use it at on manual speed 1 or 2 instead of auto.