Asthma is an inflammatory and allergic disease. It gets aggravated when exposed to indoor allergens and causes inflammation in the airways of the lungs. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common triggers of allergies and asthma include dust, tobacco smoke, mold, pollen, and household pets. These contaminants vary in size. When these clients make their way to your lungs, they can cause untold damage.
According to the EPA, one of the best ways to get rid of pollutants in the air is using an air purifier. Air purifiers have robust filtration systems made of fibrous media. These filters can capture particles of different sizes that allow you and your family to get to breathe clean, fresh air. The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is made by Winix, a Korean-based company focusing on home air quality with over 40 years of experience in air filtration.
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier Features
The Winix 5500-2 Air cleaner is designed for any home environment and can effectively capture dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, Volatile Organic Compounds, and household odors. The air purifier has AHAM verified CADR rating of 243 Dust/ 232 Smoke/ 246 Pollen (cfm). The machine is suitable for medium to large living spaces, kitchens, bedrooms and is AHAM Rated for rooms up to 360 sq. ft. The air purifier has an ACH of 4X, which means it can change the air four times in a room up to 360 square feet.
The Winix 5500-2 features a boxy, rectangular design with a front and sides air intake and an outlet at the top. The unit draws in air and passes it through the 4-stage filtration system. After a thorough cleaning, the purifier distributes clean air via the top outlet. The control panel at the top is intuitive and user-friendly. The buttons are prominently marked, and visual cues explain what each button does, taking out any guesswork as to what they do. One LED Smart Sensor with three different colors displays your room’s current air quality status. Winix manufacturers have mentioned in the manual to avoid putting the air purifier in direct sunlight to prevent the failure of the product.
The Winix 5500-2 comes with two side handles weighing 15.4 lbs., making it easier to move the machine around the house. The space-saving model can be placed anywhere in your room, and it won’t get in the way, but It would be best if you put the air purifier on hard and flat surfaces. The Winix air purifier is fitted with a pedestal as a base. Made of ABS, the pedestal is sturdy and provides balance. The body is also made of ABS plastic and can withstand impact. You can also place the air purifier on a side table to reach the buttons easily. The Winix air purifier comes with a remote control making it convenient to operate.
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier filtration system
The Winix 5500-2 Air Cleaner comes with a 4 stage filtration system:
Pre-filter- made of fine mesh, the pre-filter traps large particles. They include dust, pollen, pet hair, lint, and fibers. The pre-filter is washable. To clean the pre-filter, vacuum it or rinse it in room temperature water.
Activated carbon filter- made of granular carbon, the filter is specially formulated to capture offensive smoke, cooking, and other household odors. It also traps and removes smoke, pet odors and prolongs the lifespan of the True HEPA filter. This honeycomb carbon filter is also washable. Winix suggests washing the carbon filter every three months and replace it after 12 months. Use room temperature water and with no detergents or soaps. Dry the filter thoroughly before use again.
True HEPA filter- made of dense fibrous media, the HEPA filter traps and removes 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Such particles include allergens, mold spores, smoke, dust, pet dander, and microbes.
See also: Best Air Purifiers With HEPA Filter For Home
The WINIX-5500-2 also comes with PlasmaWave technology that forms Hydroxyl Radicals that break apart pollutants, including viruses, bacteria, germs, odors, and chemical gases (VOCs) at a molecular level without producing harmful ozone. The destroyed pollutants are converted into water vapor or harmless air molecules. The purifier has a dedicated button for activating PlasmaWave. You can activate this feature by pressing the dedicated button on the pane. Please note that the PlasmaWave acts as a permanent filter and may emit tiny amounts of ozone. Use this feature intermittently as the ozone can cause lung irritation.
More about how it works..
The Winix 5500 comes with it two smart sensors to help detect the change in air quality. The VOC sensor is capable of detecting a variety of odorous pollutants in the air. The ambient light sensor detects light in the room. The system also includes an air quality indicator. The LED light changes in real-time based on air quality. If the LED light indicates RED on the machine, the air quality is poor, where the device will operate at the highest setting. The air purifier will continue running at high fan speed until the sensor detects any air pollutants. If it displays, orange the air quality is acceptable, while the blue color on the LED describes good air quality. In this case, the purifier will continue to run normally. This function help adjust the fan speed according to the real-time air quality and therefore save energy. Winix 5500-2 also features a LED life indicator to remind you of replacing your air filter.
The mode button enables you to activate preset modes, namely Auto and sleep mode. The Auto mode works together with the air quality monitoring system to clean the air. If the onboard VOC sensor detects pollutants in the air, auto mode will select the highest fan speed to get rid of the contaminants faster. The other preset mode is Sleep mode. The air purifier also activates Sleep mode when the room becomes dark. This ensures continuous, quiet operation. At the sleep setting, the Winix 5500-2 has a sound level of 28 dB. In the Turbo setting, the Winix 5500-2 air purifier can generate sound above 50 dB, which is relatively quiet, but can’t be ignored. You need to know that the cleaner can change back to auto mode in the presence of light. It doesn’t have the Smart Wi-Fi Connectivity feature. The machine comes with a 2-year warranty.
Pros
- 4 stage filtration system
- Built-in air quality sensors to measure air quality
- AHAM verified, CARB approved, Energy Star Certified
- Set-and-forget operation
- Change filter alert
- Sleep mode puts the unit at quiet fan speed and dims indicator lights
- 4 Fan Speeds (Quiet, Medium, High, Turbo)
- Durable Quality
Cons
- PlasmaWave technology produces small amounts of ozone
- Low quantity of carbon pellets
- Remote control lacks a backlight
- Some users have complained about foul odor emanating from the machine
Should you buy it?
The Winix 5500-2 air purifier features smart sensors that detect pollutants and an auto mode that automatically adjusts fan speed and sleep mode for silent night operation. Thanks to its 4 stage filtration system, it traps pollutants, creating a healthy living environment. The air purifier is CARB certified, Energy Star certified, and AHAM verified and is ideal for both medium and large rooms.