Review on Winix 5500 2 Purifier PlasmaWave Reducing by Debbie Calloway

I've been looking for a new air purifier for almost a year, doing research here and there, trying to find a unit that meets all the requirements I'm looking for. I need a device for a larger room, with automatic function, replaceable filters at a good price and good looking to match my home decor. A recent 80,000-acre fire sped up my research, as the area is (and still is) blanketed in a thick layer of smoke every morning. All in all, the Winix 5500-2 met all my requirements. The device arrived quickly and unpacking was easy. I literally set it up and got it up and running in about 5 minutes. The body is made of hard matte black plastic that feels strong and durable. The front panel is easily removed and attached to the unit with a clever magnetic catch that is secure yet easy to remove to access the pre-filter for bi-weekly cleaning and Hepa/Carbon filter replacement. There are 3 filters in total that fit snugly into the filter chamber and are secured by a pre-filter that snaps securely into place. The control panel at the top is intuitive and easy to use. The buttons are clearly labeled and visual cues explain what each button does, taking any guesswork out of what they do. A stylish light bar runs along the bottom of the control panel to indicate the level of air purity with a 3 color scheme: green - clean, orange - normal, red - bad. You can start the machine manually with 4 fan settings or select automatic mode and let the machine choose the settings based on the data collected from the sensor. This means manual control. There's a night mode that sets the fan to its lowest setting to reduce noise and also dims all the lights on the panel. This night mode is set automatically, if the device is set to automatic, the light sensor will detect any light in the room (or not) and switch to night mode. The control panel also has a filter replacement indicator. According to my research, a Hepa filter should last about 1 year. Comes with a remote control with pre-installed battery. I don't plan on using it, but if you need it, it's here. This is the quietest air purifier I have ever owned. At level 1 it is barely audible and even in turbo mode level 4 it is not louder than a pedestal fan at high speeds. This was a very pleasant surprise. Cleans the air well. I am currently using it in my 350 sqm. ft. I don't have the equipment to test this, but according to their website I should be getting at least 4 air changes per hour, which is the number of air changes required for allergies and serious air purification. I smelled no smoke AT ALL in the bedroom with the door closed to the rest of the house and it was amazing to walk from the bedroom to the rest of the house after the first night of use. This device has more than exceeded my expectations and meets all the requirements I have set for an air purifier. I plan to buy 2 more of these when money allows for my 700m2 combined kitchen/dining/living area. ft. I can place them on opposite sides of the square and get more than enough coverage. I highly recommend this device. For the price and functionality, it simply can't be beat. The cost is low, replacement filters are not expensive, it covers a wide area, and you get a lot of features. As well as regularly cleaning the pre-filter and changing the filter annually, I had a co-worker quietly working around the house keeping my air clean. For now I can say with confidence that this is a durable machine! 08/20/20203 years later and still working! I'm only posting this update because I'm in ANOTHER terrible fire season in California and in an insanely large smoke zone. Apart from regular pre-filter cleanings and my yearly hepa and charcoal filter change there isn't much else to report. I really didn't expect this thing to last as long as I run it 24/7, often on the highest settings for the best results. Now I have 2, I bought another one last year to get more coverage around the house. So far I can only warmly recommend it to everyone. I would also like to join those who say that this device produces harmful levels of ozone. It's just not true. You can contact the California Air Resources Board, specifically the California Certified Air Purifiers section. This will show you a list of air purifiers that have been government tested and produce less than 0.050ppm ozone. This device and all others from Winix will be listed. This means that this device meets or falls below the levels listed as safe. Be sure to do your own research on the subject as you read the reviews. It's crazy how much bad information is out there! Don't take anyone's word for it, see what they say!