The mister left no residue on the other surfaces in our testing space, which was a major draw. Although this diffuser has a large tank with an included cleaning brush, we found it difficult to clean by hand, so be sure to use the included brush for the recessed corners of the tank. The owner’s manual also suggests using distilled water because tap water can lessen the product’s lifespan. After six months of use, we were still impressed by this humidifier’s quiet operation, design, and great run time . However, we did start to notice an odor and are concerned that it is coming from condensation that may be trapped in the tank. We still think this is a great budget-friendly pick due to its otherwise great performance and recommend making sure to follow all of the cleaning instructions.
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters don’t capture volatile organic compounds . Some also employ a class of minerals known as zeolites, whose extremely fine pores allow them to function as molecular-scale filters. Our VOC pick has significant amounts of both activated carbon and zeolites. For best results, it’s recommended that you place your humidifier about 3 feet away from a bed. It should also be situated away from walls and electrical appliances that the mist could settle on. Some larger units, such as our “best combo” pick, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+ Cool Autoreact, will need to be placed on the floor near your bed.
“Be sure to match the filter’s CADR with the size of the room where you plan to use the filter.” The compact size of this purifier also makes it a great portable option if you need to move it from room to room in your home. The power cord is rather short, though, so the purifier does need to be placed close to a power outlet.
It’s physically quite a bit larger than the AP-1512HH, both in height and footprint, and in a bedroom, playroom, or living room it can be a visually imposing presence. It’s also a bit louder than the Coway model, at 43 decibels levoit filter versus 39 decibels on the everyday medium setting. Both of those numbers fall well below our 50-decibel limit for “quiet,” but the difference is readily audible, especially when you’re going to sleep or watching TV.
Then it would be a good idea to vacuum the inside of the unit and remove accumulated dust particles, hair, and similar dirt. If this method does not work, leave it for another 24 hours, and if it still fails, I suggest you request a replacement filter directly from Levoit. Use these items to clean your home’s air, reduce the sources of respiratory problems, and limit the infiltration of new particulates.
Pollen alone can cause a few runny noses, but you can significantly reduce those bad days with an air purifier. To qualify as true HEPA, a filter must pass a test that demonstrates it can clean at least 99.97% of airborne particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. If you suffer from health issues, look for a system that has been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Whether your purifier has a filter that needs to be changed or cleaned, an alert can come in handy.
The HEPA specification requires removal of at least 99.97% of 0.3 micrometers airborne pollutants. Products that claim to be “HEPA-type”, “HEPA-like”, or “99% HEPA” do not satisfy these requirements and may not have been tested in independent laboratories. Activated carbon is a porous material that can adsorb volatile chemicals on a molecular basis, but does not remove larger particles. The adsorption process when using activated carbon must reach equilibrium thus it may be difficult to completely remove contaminants.
The Core 300 also features a separate sleep mode, at which it produces almost undetectable levels of noise—but also moves so little air that we doubt it does much for purification. The medium and low settings should be quiet enough to sleep near for most people. Senior staff writer Tim Heffernan has been at Wirecutter since 2015 and has overseen this guide since then. Since 2017, he has conducted extensive real-world testing of air purifiers in his New York apartment and in Wirecutter’s New York and Los Angeles offices. Tim has also lived with most of our picks, running them 24/7 for months—sometimes years—on end in his apartment. That experience has helped him gather objective data on their long-term purifying performance and any mechanical degradation.
While it doesn’t have any upgraded features like those you’ll get with higher-priced options, it still performed well in our tests, especially compared to other budget models. While this isn’t the best option for a big room, if you’re looking for a simple humidifier to place on your vanity, then this budget-friendly humidifier may be the right pick for you. Some air purifiers are more powerful than others, and just how much power you’ll need will depend on the size of the room, how many pets you have, and what, if any, allergies your family members experience. Most air purifier product descriptions include a recommended cubic footage, indicating whether it’s appropriate for large or small rooms. Our tester also noted that she could barely hear this purifier when it was operating in silent mode, and she enjoyed the sleep mode, which allows the lights on the purifier to be turned off. Our tester did note that while the VOC filtration system was effective, the indicator light was confusing to understand between the cleaning stages.
In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally, we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. Essential oils can clog and erode cool mist humidifiers which will cause them to malfunction and stop working. You also shouldn’t use them in steam vaporizers because the levoit filter heat could change the chemical makeup of essential oils, which could counteract their scent. The specialized light filtration system eliminates microbes that may grow in the humidifier’s tank and prevents them from being released into the air with the mist. Some include sprayers that inject mist into your ductwork; others are equipped with foam cylinders that rotate in a water tray with air blowing through and around it.