Elechomes EPI081 Air Purifier Review: HEPA for under 100?

Last updated on April 19th, 2021

The starters

The only affordable, aromatherapy HEPA air purifier at the point of this writing. Elechomes EPI081 portable 6.3 inches diameter, 9.3 inches height, and 3.4 lb weight are very versatile for everyday use. Bring it along with you during work, travel, or simply leave it in the bedroom for all-day purifying. The white housing is clean but not over-simplistic which would sacrifice its usability. There is 360° air circulation inlet that captures airborne particles at every angle. The top outlet allows further airflow distribution for greater coverage. There is even a slot where you can insert your favorite essential oil pads like lavender, chamomile, rose, or myrrh. Enjoy clean air while you relax and sleep throughout the day. The best of both worlds.

Another surprise design element we like about Elechomes EPI081 air purifier is the easy access front smart panel. There is a dedicated power button to turn on/ off the machine and a timer button cycling 1, 2, 4, 8 hours of operation. You can also select between the 3 fan speed and Auto mode that automatically sets to high speed when there is a high concentration of pollutants detected. Lastly, the filter change indicator will alert you to replace the composite filter after 3,000 of use.

On the whole, the fitting is tight with easy to open base cover for a quick filter change. No harmful off-gassing or ozone detected for our test unit. The extended 18 months warranty (after registration) is a good assurance of its reliability. It is also UL listed, AHAM rated, CARB approved, and pet-friendly. Since it does not comes with an ionizer or similar technology, it is also 100% ozone-free and safe for everyone including pets.

Airflow, speed, and CADR

Elechomes EPI081 air purifier can clean indoor air up to 215 square feet with standard air changes per hour. The 3 fan speed output is plentiful but we suggest you leave it in Auto or sleep mode for a seamless operation. Auto mode will automatically set the fan speed to high when there are high pollutants detected. Sleep mode will lock the fan speed to low to prevent any noise disturbance during your sleep. Elechomes EPI081 is best used in small room sizes like bedrooms or dormitory where you will spend the most time in. You can even use it in the living room, basement, or garage, just don't expect the same air purifying outcome due to the larger room space. Elechomes EPI081 CADR is surprisingly low given its purifying coverage. The official clean air delivery rate is only at 47 cfm for all three dust, pollen, and smoke. This could be due to the many filters that impede the airflow circulation. While there is no denying Elechomes EPI081 capability in removing airborne irritants, don't expect the same performance as a full-sized console air purifier.

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What’s inside count

The biggest highlight to Elechomes EPI081 is the quadruple filtration and H13 filter. Starting with the pre-filter that captures large particles like dust, pet hair, debris in the air. The pre-filter will also help protect the HEPA filter from being damaged by particulates. Next, the antibacterial filter will inhibit microorganisms from growing in the filter and causes widespread germs. The medical-grade HEPA H13 filter will remove 99.97% of PM2.5 e.g. mold spore, mildew, dust mites, bacteria, and viruses. Compared with a normal HEPA filter, the HEPA H13 filter can capture fine particles as small as 0.1 microns (VS 0.3 microns). For smoke particles, the activated carbon filter will absorb pet odors, musty mold, cooking smoke, toxic cigarette, and anything that smells. After running Elechomes EPI081 for a couple of days, you can truly feel the air quality differences and breathe a lot better.

Keep it down

Elechomes EPI081 is a very silent air purifier suitable for a bedroom and workstation. It will output a whispering 22 dB noise at sleep speed that is even softer than in the library. Running at 50 dB high speed, we would categorize it under white noise that is not distracting at all. For power usage, Elechomes EPI081 is very energy-efficient given its average airflow distribution. At a standard 12 operation hours, the electric cost will be between the region of 0.02 - 0.04 dollars per day, or a mere 0.6 - 1.2 dollars a month. For the suggested 24 hours of operation, just multiply the figures by 2. Barely a pinch in your electric bill.

At what cost

For a 4-stage air purifier with aromatherapy function, Elechomes EPI081 will only cost you around 60 after an online discount. Cheaper than its segment competitors are offering yet with better features including autonomous mode. You also get a HEPA H13 and dedicated carbon filter bundled in the package. As for the upkeeping, the filter replacement cost is on the pricier side between 40 to 80 dollars annually depending on the indoor air quality. You will have to replace the filter every 6 months to maintain the filtration performance.

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