Blueair ECO10 Energy-Star HEPASilent Air Purifier Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is the first air purifier I ever purchased. I think the full list price of $900 is outrageous and would not have bought it at full price for what is almost a big computer case with a high quality fan and very high quality HEPA filters. However, I jumped at the chance to buy it at the 50% off sale price or $450. So far it's working really well. It's a bit bulky, but then all good air purifiers are because the filters need enough surface area to work properly. It achieves low power consumption largely by having a large filter area so that the air velocity can be kept low while keeping the air volume high. Low air velocity translates to lower energy consumption and lower noise.
At 10 Watts on the high setting, even if I run it 24/7, the energy consumption will be only $1 a month and my electricity rate in California is a high 14 cents per kWh.
The power switch's placement at foot level is very inconvenient. Unless you leave the unit on for 24 hours a day, everyday, you'll find it a chore to have to constantly bend down to access the switch.
The outside of the product's packaging, as well as all the websites I've visited(including Amazon), says the filters last up to 12 months. That's actually incorrect advertising. The manual says for "optimal use" the filters should be changed every six months. I've noticed the air flow decreased noticeably after 2 months of use at 12 hours a day. Furthermore, in order for the 10-year warranty to be valid, Blueair requires the buyer to change the filters every six months and to send in the registration as explicitly stated in the manual. Of course, the question is whether Blueair will require proof that the user bought new filters every six months when it comes time for warranty work. Oh, another thing, the warranty is only 10 years, not "lifetime" as the websites state, another incorrect advertisement!
The filters cost $100 per set. So if I change the filters religiously every 6 months, the filters alone will cost $200 a year, plus $12 a year for electricity. With charcoal, the operating cost will exceed $300 a year. Ouch! Also, keep in mind that this is just the operating cost for one large room (up to 300 sq. ft.) and not for the whole house.
It's quiet enough even on high that I can sleep with it on high, and on the low setting, it sounds about as loud as a somewhat loud computer case fan and is mostly unobtrusive. The fan noise is not unpleasant. In fact, I sometimes use it on the high setting as a passable white noise machine to drown out ambient noises when I go to sleep.
The only true negative with this unit is it's exclusively a particulates filter. It has no charcoal to absorb odor. In order for the purifier to be effective, I need to keep my bedroom door closed. When the filters were new, the air got stuffy overnight when I kept the door closed. I think it was the smell of the new filters, but after a couple of weeks, the stuffy smell went away. For those who want to filter odor, Blueair makes Smokestop filters include charcoal. The Smokestop filters cost almost twice as much as the regular Eco10 filters and are also not as readily available.
It's interesting to note that the Eco10 has virtually the same 250 CFM rating as the IQAir Heatlh Pro and practically the same percentage particulate reduction. Therefore the two units should have about the same area coverage rating. But the IQAir claims effective up to 900 sq. feet, whereas the Blueair Eco10 only claims 300 sq. ft. with 6 air changes per hour(which is the generally recommended rate by experts). This tells me the IQAir's capacity is overrated vs. the conservative rating of the Eco10. I tried to find the CADR rating of the IQAir but couldn't find it anywhere. Based on the fact that the Blueair Eco10 has a CADR of about 200, I surmise the IQAir has similar CADR. I just don't see how a 200 CADR unit can cover 900 sq. ft. Maybe that's why Consumer Report gave the IQAir a low rating.
Summary:
Pluses: very quiet compared to other brands, very effective filtration down to 0.1 micron at 99.97% efficiency, good air flow of around 250 CFM, good CADR rating of around 200, ultra low electricity consumption.
Minuses: short filter life, very high operating costs because of short filter life and expensive filters, no charcoal to absorb odors, unless you opt for the even more expensive Smokestop filters.
Bottomline: Quiet unit and very energy efficient, BUT the energy savings will not even come close to offsetting the high operating costs associated with the frequent changes of expensive filters.

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Combining ease of use with an environmentally friendly design, this unique air purifier delivers cleaner, healthier indoor air for rooms measuring approximating 20 by 15 feet. Its front-access control knob allows for selecting from two speeds--HEPA silent or Max airflow. Even on "Max airflow" the air purifier delivers whisper-quiet operation at just 49 db. The unit also provides an ultra-efficient EC fan motor and HEPASilent technology, which uses electrostatic and mechanical filtration to quickly and quietly capture 99.97-percent of particles down to 0.1 micron in size, including allergens such as pollen grains, dust mites, mold spores, and pet-dander particles. Three HEPASilent filters come included.
Thanks to Blueair's commitment to the environment, standard triclosan-coated paper or glass filter fibers have been replaced with safer, nontoxic polypropylene, one of the least harmful plastics, which produces only carbon dioxide and water as it decomposes, which means no toxins released into landfills or the air. Polypropylene's also waterproof, so the air filter naturally resists contamination from bacteria, viruses, and mold, without chemical additives or washes. The 100-percent recyclable filter should be replaced once a year, but vacuuming the purifier's main filter unit can help prolong filter life. The air purifier also comes with four pre-filters that trap large particles and ensure long-lasting performance. Other highlights include an award-winning Swedish design, smooth-rolling casters, and a CADR of 190 for smoke, 195 for dust, and 200 for pollen.
Furthermore, the purifier uses up to 95-percent less energy than other comparable air cleaners. In fact, it's more than earned its Energy Star rating. Even on high speed, the unit runs on just 10 watts of power, making it nearly 10 times more energy efficient than the minimum performance requirements established by the EPA's Energy Star program. Choosing Energy Star products can help save up to a third on energy bills, as well as on greenhouse gas emissions. All of which means purified indoor air without excess costs or impact on the environment. The air purifier measures 26 by 20 by 13 inches and carries a limited lifetime warranty.

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