Company Review: Winix Air Purifiers
Winix Offers Energy Efficient Air Purifiers to Meet Any Budget
By Becky Dotson
12 min read
For nearly 50 years, Winix has been committed to improving the quality of the air we breathe inside our homes. In addition to air purifiers, the company makes humidifiers and dehumidifiers, as well as ceramic heaters and personal garment appliances. Their air purifiers have sleek designs, cover a wide range of square footage, and are priced to meet any budget.
Many of Winix’s units come with smart features – like air quality indicators, are Wi-Fi enabled or can be operated with a remote control. Some of them are small enough to fit onto your nightstand or big enough to take care of your living room. All are equipped with true HEPA filtration and Winix’s Plasma Wave Technology. The HR900 model is specifically designed with pet owners in mind. The five stages of filtration include a filter that pulls pet hair and dander out of the air – both of which can be big allergy triggers.
The units are made well and are built to last. Our research indicates filters may not be as long-lasting as their competitors. Winix HEPA filters, generally, only last a year and the carbon filters need to be changed every three months.
Pros
Smart features
HEPA filtration Technology
Plasma Wave Technology
Energy Star rating
Cons
Customer service issues
Filters don’t last as long as competitor brands
Key Takeaways
- Plasma Wave Technology
- Options for Every Budget
Winix Air Purifier Products
Winix offers a full line of air purifier products which range in price from 120 to 1100 dollars. Their products offer three, four or five stages of filtration. All work with true HEPA filters and Winix’s Plasma Wave Technology. Many of the purifiers will have a washable pre-filter, which captures larger particles or an activated carbon filter which will eliminate smoke and odors in your home.
Winix air purifiers are made well with sleek designs and can cover a wide range of areas in your home. If you’re looking for a quality air purifier for a small space, you may want to consider the Winix D-360. It covers 360 square feet of space, has three stages of filtration and is priced around $250. For large spaces, the Winix XQ is a good choice. It covers up to 698 square feet, has four stages of filtration and is priced around $1100.
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About Winix Air Purifiers
Winix has been in business since 1973 with a mission “to deliver perfect products which are superior in innovation, performance and style.” Winix makes air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers and is committed to developing products that promote clean, healthy air.
The company owns and operates five factories in China, South Korea and Thailand. It also runs sales, marketing and support centers in the Netherlands, South Korea and the USA. It has earned a reputation as a company that makes innovative units with sleek designs and has received awards for its products.
What’s New From Winix Air Purifiers
Companies that design and manufacture air purifiers are always looking for and trying to create ways to improve the product and make it more user friendly. That’s how new trends emerge in the industry. Here are a few new innovations you will find with Winix air purifiers:
- Separate carbon filters
Most air purifiers with activated carbon filters have the carbon filter wrapped in with the HEPA filter. Winix decided to change that and developed an innovative way to have real carbon filters separate from the HEPA filter. You will find this technology now only in newer models from Winix. Carbon filters absorb odors and smoke and have to be changed more often because they burn out faster. With a carbon filter separate from the HEPA filter, your HEPA filter won’t have to be changed out as often as with other brands. - Newer, better models
At Winix, quality is important. And while all their air purifiers are good options for cleaning and purifying the air inside your home, the newer models they are designing and releasing are better at improving air quality than their older models. The Winix XQ is one such example. The purifier has four stage filtration and cleans larger spaces. It will clean a room as big as 3378 square feet – but it will only be able to do that once an hour. It can clean 1500 square feet every 30 minutes, 1126 square feet every 20 minutes and 845 square feet every 15 minutes. The XQ is also Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled through the company’s app.
It’s equipped with three sensors to detect air quality and odors in real-time, including a built-in laser sensor that measures and adjusts the fan speed accordingly. The XQ runs around $1100, but it is an air purifier we recommend.
- New features
Every year, new air purifier models are released with new features. On newer models of Winix purifiers you will find the ability to add on fragrance pods. So not only will the air in your home be cleaner, a fragrance pod will allow you to choose the aroma you want wafting around inside.
Winix Air Purifier Quality
Online reviews from verified buyers are a great way to understand how well a product works. Most Winix customers are happy with their air purifiers and feel like they do a great job at cleaning the air inside their homes. You will find those who have issues with their purifiers not working properly. Most negative reviews online pertain to customer service or warranty issues. You will find people who love the air purifier but aren’t pleased with Winix’s customer service.
Features and Services
Many of its air purifiers have air quality indicators that will let you know the quality of the air around you in real time and automatically adjust the fan speed accordingly. You can also get Winix air purifiers that are WiFi-enabled, so you are able to control the unit from your smartphone or tablet. Some Winix air purifiers come equipped with remote controls. And Winix air purifiers are all equipped with Plasma Wave Technology which neutralizes bacteria and viruses.
Energy Efficiency
Winix believes in manufacturing products that are energy efficient. They have earned an Energy Star rating from the U.S. government and their purifiers are AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) certified for removing dust, pollen and smoke out of the air.
Winix has received various awards for its design and technology, including the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award.
Customer Support & Reviews
Winix has a FAQ page that’s informative and helpful. You can contact the company’s customer service team by phone (877-699-4649) or by email at [email protected]. There’s also a form you can fill out on the website to submit any kind of question or concern and a chat feature where you can have real time conversations with customer service representatives.
We read through dozens of customer service reviews online and found that many customers like the air purifier but don’t like the company’s customer service. They often praise the performance of the air purifier and how well it cleans the air. Others found that their new unit malfunctions quickly and had a difficult time getting through to customer service and getting a response or even a resolution for their issue.
Winix is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently has an F rating for failing to respond to 16 complaints registered with the BBB and not resolving two others. Many of the complaints filed with the BBB relate to problems getting warranty claims processed.
Costs for Winix Air Purifiers
Winix air purifiers cover a wide range in cost – which is fairly standard in the industry. You can expect to pay between $120 and $1100, depending on the make and model you choose. Most of the selection, though, falls on the lower end of the cost scale. Winix makes eleven different air purifiers with different levels of filtration and room coverage. So, you should be able to find a unit that fits your specific budget and needs.
Filter Replacement Costs
Winix’s replacement filters costs between $50 and $200 each. The air purifiers will let you know when it’s time to change your filter, and it’s important to do so in a timely manner. Clean, well-maintained filters will ensure you’re breathing the healthiest air possible in your home and keep your air purifier working well for a longer period of time.
Winix does have a Filter Club. If you sign up online and register your product, you can get filters for 10 percent off.
Winix Warranty
All Winix air purifiers come with a limited warranty between one and five years, depending on the model you buy. Model numbers and their corresponding warranties can be found here.
Winix promises any new machine you buy with their name on it will be in perfect working order and defect-free. If you find that any part of your air purifier is defective, Winix will fix or replace it – as long as it falls within the warranty period. The warranty does not cover filters and has some fairly stringent guidelines. For it to take effect, the following things must apply:
- The product must have been bought from an authorized Winix dealer or retailer.
- Your purchase date must fall within the warranty period for the model you have.
- Winix America Customer Service Team has to determine the air purifier is defective after conducting its own troubleshooting.
- You’ve only used Winix replacement filters and they have been changed appropriately.
- The unit has been operated correctly.
If the unit is found to be defective, you will have to follow the steps on the Winix website in order to return it. You will be responsible for any shipping costs associated with returning the product.
Returns and Shipping
Winix has a 30-day return policy on products purchased through its website. If you bought the air purifier at a store, you’ll have to return it there.
If you’re sending a return back to Winix, the air purifier has to be in its original packaging with all the filters, manuals and parts. The cost to return the unit will be your responsibility.
If you’re exchanging the air purifier for another, you’ll have to follow the same process as you would if it was a return. Winix will have to receive the product from you first before you receive an exchange.
Winix Helps You Stay Protected from Allergies, Viruses, and Smoke
Winix prides itself on its Plasma Wave Technology. Each air purifier the company makes and sells is equipped with it. Plasma Wave Technology generates positive and negative ions to neutralize bacteria and viruses without producing harmful ozone. Getting rid of any bacteria or virus floating in the air will help keep you and your family from getting sick.
All Winix air purifiers work with true HEPA filters, which will capture 99.97 percent of the contaminants floating in the air. Getting rid of air pollutants will significantly reduce allergy and asthma triggers and help keep your respiratory system healthier.
The air purifiers that Winix designs and sells have three, four or five stages of filtration. A three-stage filtration unit will have a true HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, which will get rid of odors and smoke inside your home, as well as the Plasma Wave Technology. A four-stage filtration unit will add a pre-filter to get rid of larger particles like hair. A five-stage filtration unit will add a pet pre-filter to get rid of pet hair and dander floating in the air.
Placement For Your Winix Air Purifier
Air purifiers are designed to cover a certain amount of square footage. Before buying an air purifier, it’s important to know what room you are going to put it in and how big the room is. If the room ends up being bigger than the coverage area for the air purifier you choose, the unit won’t work like you want it to.
Winix offers air purifiers that cover a wide range of spaces. The smallest units cover around 230 square feet – while the larger ones can cover up to 698 square feet. So, if you have a smaller room – like a baby’s nursery, you may want to opt for the Winix A231. But if you’re looking for something to clear the air in your living room, the Winix XQ may be your best bet.
Like all air purifiers, you want to make sure you put it where it can be most effective. Never hide it behind furniture or curtains or have it touching the wall. The air needs to be able to circulate around the unit and hiding it or covering up part of it will keep the purifier from working properly. Winix recommends leaving 12 to 18 inches between your unit and any walls, furniture or electronics for maximum air flow.
Winix has smaller models – like the A231 – which can sit on top of nightstands or dressers. The bigger units – like the XQ – will have to take up some floor space.
Bottom Line
Whatever Winix model you choose, you can be assured that it will help keep the air inside your home healthier. All Winix air purifiers have three, four or five stage of filtration for maximum effectiveness. They all work with true HEPA filters, which capture up to 99.97 percent of the airborne contaminants floating around. All Winix units are also equipped with Plasma Wave Technology which neutralizes bacteria and viruses – and can help keep your family well and breathing easier.
