Philips Air Purifier Series 2000 Review.

Home air purifiers are becoming a bit of a hit. There’s now an extensive range on the market. Recently I looked at the Dyson Pure Cool, a connected smart purifier that uses a feature rich app and now incorporates a new LCD display on the machine. The question of whether we need these products in our country is a whole other issue, but given I actually use one I thought I’d give this latest arrival a go. It’s the $529 Philips Air Purifier Series 2000.

 

The first thing I’ll say about these products is that most of them are plain ugly. If you like the look of a Dyson Fan, then the Pure Cool link is perfect. But Philips has also done a great job in my opinion of turning something that would otherwise look like a mini bar fridge into something attractive.

The one thing I will say about the products I’ve tested is that they are very responsive. A simple spray from a can of hair spray sends them into a frenzy, cooking quickly spikes their attention and even vacuuming will fire them off.

The Technology.

The Philips Series 2000 has three layers of filtration called VitaShield IPS. The panel-like filters that you slide in start off with one that gets rid of large particles, like pet hair for example. A second active carbon filter removes gases, smoke and odours. Finally, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter removes the stuff you can’t see like allergens, dust and dust mites. If you are really into stats it can scrub out particles as small as 0.003um or 99.97 per cent of all the nasties in the air.

Philips call its onboard sensor AeraSense. A visual representation of the current air quality is showcased via the front colour wheel. Blue means good right through to red that indicates poor.

Air is sucked in via two side vents and ejected from the top of the product. Hence, it’s important to keep in mind that it won’t act like a fan, as the Dyson version does. The top panel features a number of simple buttons for power, turning the colour wheel off for use at night, fan speed and a timer. A simple LCD screen shows you real-time feedback via a numerical display. It could do with a remote control however.

There are three purification modes, general for everyday freshness. An allergen mode that goes harder on pollen, dust and smaller particles overall and a third mode that claims to rid the air of some bacteria and viruses.

Does it Work?

If you’re at home during the day or using it at night this is the type of product that works best left on constantly. I actually decided to leave it on for a whole day in our living room. When I returned home, I can honestly say the room did have a fresher smell and feel to it. We maintain a pretty tidy home, one that’s only a few years old. But we do have an indoors cat and toddler, so it’s not always a sparkling shrine.

I have no doubt it clears the air of smoke and odours from cooking. Plus, generally I have no reason to doubt the claims it makes in general. The version I’ve tested covers a room up to 79m², the 3000 and 6000 models will drain rooms from 95m² to 130m² respectively.

 

Things to Consider.

The machine is generally quiet, except when working on the highest fan speed but even then, I’d hardly say it’s bothersome. Keep in mind the filters need cleaning or replacing depending on usage. The carbon filter every 12 months, the HEPA every 24 months. The first simply needs a wipe down every month.

The Philips range has been approved by the National Asthma Council Australia Sensitive Choice program. I’m not an Asthma sufferer, but I’m sure those who are will benefit from one.

The Verdict.

At the end of the day I do use these types of products, because it simply makes me feel better about the air my family is breathing. But like drinking filtered water we are probably not getting any substantial health benefits as a result. But if you have an eye for detail when it comes to a clean house, why not think about the air as well.