Air filters are not something I typically think much about. I do, however, always notice how much dust there seems to be in my house and how often I suffer from allergies. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that an air filter can't hurt, even if I don't live in a city with particularly bad air pollution. After spending a month with the Levoit LV-PUR131S air filter, I now wish I hadn't waited so long to get one. This is the Levoit LV-PUR131S smart air purifier review.
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What is the Levoit LV-PUR131S?
The Levoit LV-PUR131S is a smart air purifier with a three-stage air filtration system. It comprises a preliminary filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated charcoal filter. The charcoal layer also helps with odor control.
The app lets you control it remotely and it's compatible with Assistant, Alexa and IFTTT.
The LV-PUR131S connects to the VeSync app on your iOS or Android phone, so you can control it remotely, create schedules, set timers, and monitor the quality of your air. It's also compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT.
How easy is it to set up?
Insanely simple. You pull it out of the box, remove the plastic from the pre-installed filters and turn it on. You can manually control the level of filtration depending on the air pollution on any given day or leave it on automatic.
One thing to note is that as you crank the speed up, the air filter gets louder and you'll burn through filters faster. Being able to control the strength of the fan is nice but it also has an automatic sensor. It constantly tests the quality of the air and controls the speed of the fan accordingly.
A sensor constantly tests the quality of the air and controls the speed of the fan accordingly.
Connecting it to the app is straightforward too. Just press and hold the power button for five seconds to connect to your 2.4GHz network. Once you've got the Levoit air filter in the VeSync app you can control it remotely. You can even order new filters through the app.
The VeSync app interface is pretty straight forward. You can monitor air quality, turn it on or off, set a schedule or timer, adjust fan speed, and turn the display on or off. The VeSync app is a hub for your other supported smart home products too. This means you don't need to download an app for every product, which I appreciate.
The LV-PUR131S also works with Google Assistant and Alexa. This means you can use voice commands to control it, which is what I tended to do.
How does it work?
Air filters are pretty simple machines. A fan inside draws air in and passes it through a basic triple-filter system. There's a pre-filter for capturing larger particles like dust and hair. Next is a HEPA filter for fine particles, bacteria, and allergens. The final step is a charcoal layer which also helps with odor control. The clean air is then vented through a grille on the top.
It tackles dust, pollen, smoke, mold spores, dust mites, bacteria, and more.
The triple-filter system can tackle dust, pollen, smoke, mold spores, dust mites, bacteria, and airborne critters and hair from your pets. The Levoit LV-PUR131S removes 99.97% of airborne allergens and dust. It can remove particulates as small as 0.3 microns. It has a good Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 135. This means it can handle up to 230 cubic meters of air in up to a 30 square meter room.
How long do filters last?
Levoit says the filters should last between three to six months depending on your usage. An algorithm monitors the airflow through the filters, presumably in concert with the air quality sensors inside. The algorithm uses this information to predict when you'll need to clean or replace them. You can also pop the back panel off to visually inspect the filters.
Replacement filters are on the higher end of reasonably priced, at $29.99 for the set or $56.99 for a twin pack. You can pick them up on Amazon. If they last you the full six months, you'll be investing $5/month in clean air.
You can also remove and hand wash your existing filters to prolong their lifespan a little. Keep in mind that there's little point in scrimping on replacement filters when clean air is your goal. Just be sure to factor in the ongoing cost before committing to this or any air filter.
There's little point in scrimping on replacement filters when clean air is your goal. Just factor in the ongoing cost.
It's hard to say exactly how often you'll need to replace filters. It all depends on how often you use it, how strong a setting you're using it on, and how bad the air is. I live in the middle of the city but away from the road, so the air is generally not too bad. But it is still full of more dust, pollen, and fluff than I would like.
After using it more than I probably needed to, I eventually scheduled the Levoit air filter to come on for a half-hour each morning. I would also turn it on occasionally whenever the urge struck, like if I burned something in the kitchen or had a bunch of pollen fly in an open door or window. Being able to scratch the clean air itch whenever it arises is great for your peace of mind. So for me at least it's worth it but your mileage may vary.
How noisy is it?
Not very noisy at all. Levoit says it is less than 52dB on its highest setting and 25dB on the default setting. I never felt the need to run it at top speed though, so I never had to put up with it at its loudest. Regardless, it's still among the quietest air filters around.
This air purifier is among the quietest around.
The LV-PUR131S air purifier uses an energy-efficient design to keep power demands low. At 40W, it uses about 0.015kWh/hour with a very minimal standby draw. Its low power needs also help keep the noise down. At normal speed, I found it plenty quiet enough to be fine running at night while I was sleeping. The LV-PUR131S also has a Sleep mode for super-quiet operation you can leave on all night.
Levoit LV-PUR131S review: Is it worth it?
The thing is, an air filter isn't just about cleaning the air you breathe, it's also about peace of mind. Having an air filter running sets my mind at ease, knowing that I'm doing something to ensure the air at home is clean rather than just hoping it is. I've noticed significantly less dust on the window sills and not as much stuff floating around in the early morning light. So it's a win-win.
The Levoit LV-PUR131S air purifier is a small price to pay for clean air and peace of mind.
At $169.99, the Levoit LV-PUR131S isn't the cheapest air filter around. But with super quiet, low-energy operation and solid air purification, it's an investment worth considering. If you know your air quality is particularly poor the replacement filter cost might put you off. If the air in your home isn't too bad though, this Levoit air filter is a small price to pay for clean air and peace of mind.
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