Review of Whirlpool Whispure 510 HEPA Air Purifier, Model AP51030K (used, warranty)

[reviewer]

This air purifier is designed for large rooms up to 500 sq. ft. Within 30 minutes of plugging in this machine, the air will seem crisp and fresh and you will breathe more easily. Air is passed through the HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter about 4.8 times per hour, depending on the room size. The HEPA filter catches 99.97% of airborne particles, down to 0.3 microns in size. That would include allergens like dust, smoke, pet dander, pollen, mold spores and fabric fibers. There is also a charcoal pre-filter that removes larger particles and odors.

This is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market. There are four fan speeds, including a Turbo setting to use when a room's air needs to be cleaned quickly. The low setting has the least sound, but also the least cleaning power. However, even at the highest setting, it is only as noisy as an electric fan. There's a Sleep Mode button that will put the fan on low speed for eight hours, after which it returns to the previously selected setting. Sleep Mode can be canceled by selecting another fan speed. A Control Lock avoids unintended setting changes.

Air purifiers should be placed on a hard, level surface, should not be near heat sources, and should not block air openings. They should never be used with an extension cord.

The pre-filter should be replaced every 3 months and the HEPA filter will need replacing every year. Status lights turn from green to red to let you know when it's time to change them. The filters can be expensive, but it's well worth the money if you suffer from allergies.

The Whispure has no romance in its design. It is a plain, beige appliance with an electronic control panel. Its thin, box shape takes up much less floor space than a circular air purifier. It has built-in handles, which make it easy to carry from room to room. It does not emit ozone, as electrostatic filters do.

The motor has a five-year warranty and the rest of the machine has a one-year warranty.

This air purifier is the highest rated by Consumer Reports. It was rated excellent on its ability to remove dust, pollen and smoke while on the high setting. While it was only rated 'good' on noise, all the other tested models were rated 'fair' or 'poor' in that category. An air purifier is a necessary piece of equipment for people who suffer from allergies to dust, pets, pollen or smoke. Air purifiers retail from between $110 to $860. This one has an MSRP of $349.99 and is well worth every penny.