Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh Review In 2022: Refreshing Good!
Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh Humidifier Specification
| Product | Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh Humidifier |
Dimension | 11 x 29 x 10.5 in (27.9 x 73.7 x 26.7 cm) |
| Weight | 15 lb (6.8 kg) |
| Fanspeed | 4 |
| Coverage (up to) | 115 sq. ft. (11 m2) |
| Airflow speed | |
| Dust free (CADR) | 77 cfm (131 m3/h) |
| Pollen free (CADR) | 77 cfm (131 m3/h) |
| Smoke free (CADR) | 77 cfm (131 m3/h) |
| Humidifying(H) speed | |
| Filtration | 2-stage |
Pre-Filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | - |
HEPA filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | HEPA Media 6 months |
Carbon filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | Carbon 6 months |
| Ionizer/ Technologies | |
UV-light/ PCO | - |
Other filter | Oreck Replacement Filter Kit WK15500B 6 months+ 22 |
All-in-one filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | - |
Optional/ Addon | |
| Humidifying Capacity | |
| Water tank | |
| Noise level | |
| Power usage level | 50 W |
| Timer/ Scheduler | 1-8 hours |
| Sensors | Temperature, dust, humidity sensors |
| Auto mode | |
| Air qualityAQ indicator | |
| Filter change indicator | |
| More color options | |
| Wi-Fi/ BTBluetooth | |
| ENERGY STAR | |
| Remote control | |
| Child lock | |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Email/ Phone support |
Key Features
- 2-stage filtration with humidifying feature
- Charcoal Odor-Removing Filter
- HEPA Media - Capture 99% of the particles as small as 0.3 microns
- 4 fan speeds + Sleep mode
- Built-in humidistat, digital display with filter indicator and water tank indicator
- 1-8 hours timer
- Silent operation
- Temperature, dust, humidity sensors
Design And Usability
One of North America’s most beloved brands. Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh is one fine looking 2-in-1 HEPA Ultrasonic Humidifier. At 16.2 x 15.7 x 11 in dimension and 14.1 lb weight, this is perhaps the slimmest air purifier humidifier here. The tower profile will fit well on tight space, tables and even top of the cabinet with enough support to the base. The front panel can be quickly removed to replace the filter when needed. Water tank is located at the back with grabbing handle that is nicely concealed in the design. It is rather small given how tall the machine is. Refilling is also slightly troublesome as it requires removing the reservoir to check on the water level. Overall the fitting and build quality is there that you would expect no less from the price you paid.
Let’s dive into the control panel. At the top, you will find the main air outlet grill (air inlet grill is located at the side), an LCD digital screen, 5 main touch-sensitive controls, and a reset button. So let’s begin with the blue LCD screen. The screen will display your current fan speed, timer including a number of hours, current RH%, desired humidity target. The top water tank indicator will flash and turn the LCD screen to red when the water level is low. There are also 2 filter life bars (HEPA and carbon) that will decrease according to usage. To begin the operation, press the On/ Off button to the most right. Next to it is the Speed button that will cycle between Low, Mid, High, and Turbo. Middle timer button can be set between 1-8 hours that will auto shut down the machine once the time is up. Humidity button is self-explanatory. With the help of the built-in humidistat, you can set the right RH level so the humidifier will auto switch on or off the device based on your setting. To the most left, Sleep button will set the fan speed to low and dim the LCD screen. Last but not least, the reset filter will reset the life bars that should be used after you have changed the filter.
Airflow, Coverage, And CADR
Oreck WK15500B 2-in-1 Air Refresh performance is a mixed bag. On one hand, it has a rather small purifying coverage at only 115 square feet. However, the small range does come with an outstanding filtration that can target even the tiniest particles. Pair with the compressed water tank, Oreck WK15500B will be able to run for a day without refilling. If you are planning to use it during bedtime, just keep it between 1-2 speed and you can sleep soundly throughout the night.
| Brand | Purifying Coverage | Fan Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp KC-860U | 341 sq. ft. | 3 |
| BONECO W300 Air Washer Humidifier | 540 sq. ft. | 3 |
| OPOLAR Evaporative EV01 | 540 sq. ft. | 1 |
| Venta LW25 Airwasher Humidifier | 485 sq. ft. | 3 |
| Honeywell HCM 350 | 3 |
Filters And Performance
Let's begin with the superb Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh 2-in-1 HEPA air purifier side. The first-stage HEPA Media will capture up to 99% of the airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes dust, mold, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. With most non-particles captured, the Charcoal Odor-Removing Filter can focus on removing cooking smoke and cigarette odors. So what about the humidifying part? Oreck WK15500B ultrasonic technology uses a plate that vibrates thus forces the water to exit as mist. It is an eco-friendly, filterless approach but you should only fill in with demineralized water to reduce the risk of mineral buildup.Noise And Energy Usage
As for the noise and power, think Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh as you normally would for an air purifier. At the lower 2 speed, barely any noise can be heard from the machine. While at max speed, there is some fan noise that is still bearable other than for night time with Sleep mode. Power rate wise is good across all fan speed. Expect a fairly low consumption rate when compared with a full-blown air purifier or dehumidifier.| Noise Type | Decibels |
|---|---|
| Breathing | 10 dB |
| Rustling leaves | 20 dB |
| Whispering/ Quiet library | 30 dB |
| Light rainfall | 40-50 dB |
| Conversation | 50-60 dB |
| Vacuum cleaner/ Hair dryer/ Washing machine | 65-80 dB |
| City traffic | 80-90 dB |
Pricing And Maintainence Cost
^ Replacement filters/ estimated cost
Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh Humidifier VS The Challengers
Sharp KC-860U Humidifier
The only air purifier dehumidifier that mange to pit against Oreck WK15500B. Sharp KC-860U is the pricier, better "air purifier" version but at the cost of humidifying.
BONECO W300 Air Washer Humidifier
If you fancy the freedom of not having to replace the filter, BONECO W300 is your call. If may not share the same level of air purifying, the humidification capacity is there along with a cheaper price tag.Pros
- Powerful humidifying that will auto on or off when it reaches a humidity point.
- Bundled with HEPA media and charcoal filter that captures allergens and smoke particles.
- Advanced setting including 1-8 hours timer, 4 fan speed, and sleep mode.
- Highly readable digital display will humidistat and filter lifespan indicator.
Cons
- Expensive price tag with a rather mild humidifying feature.
- Small purifying coverage with limited airflow delivery rate.
- Only 6 months filter lifespan for both HEPA media and carbon filter.
