GermGuardian AC5250PT Review: Better Than AC4825

Last updated on August 27th, 2020

The starters

At 6.1 x 27.3 x 9.5 in and 10.5 lb, GermGuardian AC5250PT is not particularly huge or heavy for an air purifier. Build quality is good with a plasticky housing that shows no sign of leakage. There are few premium touches that we like particularly the top chrome with light bar. At the bottom, there is a base that helps stabilize the slim structure while a carrying handle is at the top back. Air inlet is also located at the back while clean air is dispersed at the front.

Operating the air purifier is dead easy that even a 3 years old could understand. Circling around the display is a Power button that turns on/ off the air purifier. Fan speed button that will cycle between 1-5 speed. UV-C button will activate/ deactivate the light, and Timer button that can be set 1-8 hours. Right above all is a small Filter Reset button that is only used after you have changed the filter. You will need to press with a small object like a pen tip or paper clip when the HEPA light flashes continuously.

Lets recap on what’s included in AC5250PT specification. 5-stage, 5-speed filtration with UV-C Technology and Pet Pure antimicrobial. Dedicated UV-light, Filter replacement indicator light, and programmable timer. Finally, ENERGY STAR rated and 5 years warranty.

Airflow, speed, and CADR

GermGuardian AC5250PT 180 sq. ft. purifying coverage is targeted for small to medium range room size. Across the 5 fan speed, we did not encounter any slow down or inconsistent distribution. If you are planning to use it in an open space area such as dining room or living hall, max speed is a must. For night use in the bedroom, the air purifier will do just fine.Besides the 116 cfm smoke CADR, we do not have the official CADR figures for pollen and smoke. In theory, it should be around the same region or at least not too far off. It's certainly not the best output, but the air purifier will be fine dealing with large to fine particles.

What’s inside count

A 4 to 5-stage filtration setup depending on how you look at it. GermGuardian AC5250PT utilizes a dual charcoal pre-filter that is common in this segment. The pre-filter will trap large particles and act as a shield for the HEPA filter. For microbes, you'll have the HEPA filter standing by to capture anything that bypassed the pre-filter. The HEPA is also coated with an antimicrobial that inhibits the growth of microorganism. Last but not least, there is an optional UV-light that would eliminate germs and viruses.

Keep it down

No official figures released but our test unit is silent in most speed. We reckon AC5250PT noise level should be standard across all GermGuardian air purifiers. Power consumption is very low to low depending on your lifestyle and environment. Sadly, there is no Auto/ Sleep mode to help improve on the consumption efficiency.

At what cost

GermGuardian AC5250PT is cheap (after sales price) for a 5-stage tower air purifier. By default, all filters from HEPA filter, UV-light and Pet Pure antimicrobial is in. Annual filter replacement is another story. While the filter is not too costly to replace and find, it is also not the cheapest. In 2-3 years time, you can purchase a brand new air purifier instead with a full set of filters. To cut down on the filter cost, the UV-light can be disabled when it is not needed.

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