As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
What it really takes to run an air purifier every day
Updated
A purifier only works while it is running, so plan to run it all day. The ongoing cost is mostly filters, not electricity.
Electricity
Small purifiers draw 20 to 60W on high and far less on low. The Levoit Core 300 has a 56W motor. Running 56W around the clock is about 1.3 kWh a day. Multiply by your power rate. On low or auto, expect a fraction of that.
Filters
- Main HEPA filter: usually every 6 to 12 months. Smoke, pets and dusty homes shorten it.
- Carbon or odor filter: often every 6 months.
- Washable pre-filter, as on the Coway AP-1512HH: rinse every few weeks. It protects the expensive filter behind it.
Before buying, look up the replacement filter for that exact model and check it is in stock and sold by the brand. Owners of both the Coway and the Core 300 mention that filters are easy to get.
Noise
Rated performance is measured on the highest speed, which most people find too loud to sleep next to. There are two fixes: buy a size bigger than you need and run it on medium, or use auto mode so it only ramps up when its sensor sees particles.