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The very air you breathe can dictate how well (or how badly) you sleep. Air purifiers like the Alen 45i Air Purifier is the latest compact air purifier that Alen offers claim to clean the air of dust, odors, pollen and other pollutants but just how effective is it at improving air quality? Well, we’ve tested it out for you and these are our thoughts.
Alen 45i Air Purifier
An air purifier that’s pretty compact with a high clean air delivery rate that can be controlled with both a remote control and the Alen Air mobile app? Sign us up! But just how well does the Alen 45i air purifier hold up against the heavy hitters of the air purifier world? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Whisper quiet
- Compact and easy to move around
- Different color and façade options
- Low energy costs
- Filters out smoke, pollen, airborne bacteria, some odors and other allergens
Cons
- BreatheSmart filter replacements can be pricey
- Choosing Alen’s true HEPA filter costs more
- Lifetime warranty only comes with the subscription
- Cheapest filter option does not come with activated carbon filter
- Not meant for a very large room
Who should buy the Alen Air Purifier?
- Those who live in areas prone to wildfires
- Those who live in cities with poor air quality
- Smokers
- Those who suffer from chronic respiratory issues and allergies
- Those with children and pets
- Those who prefer smaller air purifiers they can move from room to room
Our experience with Alen 45i Air Purifier
Developed to be a smaller version of the Alen BreatheSmart 75i which is designed for large rooms and and large spaces, the Alen 45i air purifier is meant for use in rooms that measure up to 800 square feet.
It shares exactly the same specs as the 75i only in a smaller, more compact version. You also have the option to choose between different finishes from white, oak, weathered gray, brushed stainless, graphite and espresso.
There are four different filters to choose from with the 45i, depending on your needs and preferences. The default filter it comes with is their Pure filter which is a medical grade H13 HEPA filter.
The other choices include Fresh which is medical grade H13 HEPA air filter with carbon, Odor which is a medical grade H13 HEPA filter with door neutralizer and VOC/smoke which is a medical grade H13 HEPA filter with extra carbon.
We suggest choosing a filter according to what you most need or you can choose a couple of different filters and swap when needed.
When you unbox the 45i, you will find that it includes the device, a remote control, instruction manual and your chosen filters.
Setting up the Alen 45i air purifier is easy peasy – just open the front hatch through the air inlets on either side of the device and slip the HEPA filter in its slot. Make sure the pre-filter is facing you. Once done, plug the device and turn it on.
Performance
Once on, you can then choose which setting you would like your Alen 45i to be in. You can either control the settings manually or set it to auto which will adjust the settings for you automatically, according to the air quality of the room.
Performance-wise, we found the Alen 45i to be pretty powerful for its size. Our bedroom is a little over 800 square feet (so not a large room by all means but not tiny either) and yet the 45i air purifier filtered the air in 45 minutes flat and that was at the lowest speed.
You can also opt to put the 45i air purifier in turbo mode if you need to speed things along or if you think your room is filled with contaminants such as pollen, dust or smoke. When we tested it out at turbo mode with the ionizer on, it filtered the air in around 30 minutes.
You won’t have to second guess though – the Alen 45i does it for you. That’s right. And there’s two ways you can find out.
One is through the Alen Air mobile app and another one is on the machine itself – there’s a large ring around the power button that illuminates and the light’s color lets you know the air quality in a room which is indicated through 5 colors.
Purple means the air quality is poor and it cycles up through red, orange, green and finally blue which means the air in your room is good. We would have thought red would indicate the poorest air quality but oh, well.
Here’s another thing you might be wondering about: does it filter out bad odors completely? Yes and no.
Normal cooking odors and undesirable smells that are somewhat fleeting all but disappeared when we used the Alen 45i air purifier but stronger, more lingering odors such as cigarette and incense smoke tended to leave a faint trace. But then again smokers and regular incense users use these things over and over again so it’s best to manage your expectations.
Ease of use
The intuitive control panel at the front of the machine allows you choose a setting that suits you best very easily.
You can change the fan speed (you get 4 speeds), dim the led lights or turn it off completely, turn on the ionizer, place the device in child lock as well as a filter indicator that lets you know when your filter is nearing the end of its lifespan.
You can control the Alen 45i air purifier through either the control panel or the accompanying remote control which is a nice touch.
Another thing we liked about the Alen 45i is its compact size.
Unlike its bulkier and bigger older brother the Alen BreatheSmart 75i, the 45i is easier to move from room to room which is convenient especially if you’d like to purify the air in different rooms at different times.
If you have a large room though (well over 800 square feet), the Alen 45i may not be able to do its job well. For large spaces, the BreatheSmart 75i would be your best bet. Alen has different models and devices for different needs and preferences.
Noise
If you’re worried that the Alen 45i is going to be noisy, you can stop now.
We found it to be whisper quiet at the lowest speed and had the faintest hum on turbo mode. Alen utilizes that is known as pink noise.
We’re all familiar with the concept of white noise. Also called broadband noise in scientific circles, white noise contains all the frequencies in the spectrum of sounds that one hears in equal parts. It’s a static, often high pitched sound such as a fan or air conditioner.
Pink noise, on the other hand, is also known as ambient noise. Often featuring lower sound waves, it’s a constant, deeper hum in the background such as that of rustling leaves or waves on a beach which soothing and calming.
The pink noise feature of the Alen 45i is definitely something we appreciate, especially when we use the machine in our bedroom.
Value
We’re not going to lie to you.
The Alen 45i air purifier is pretty pricey. Pricier than most air purifiers of its size that you can find on the market. But for its price, we found it to be well worth it in terms of performance, ease of use and wide range of features.
You also need to replace the filter once it has reached its lifespan. That can add to the costs. Alen does claim that their filters last up to 12 months, as opposed to the industry standard of other air purifier companies whose filters last only 6 months.
But here’s another thing about the Alen 45i that may actually help you save some money – it’s Energy Star rated. That means its energy consumption stays pretty low even when you’re using it a full speed at all times of the day.
Shipping, Returns and Warranty
Alen offers free shipping for all of their air purifiers within the continental United States. Those who live in Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico have to pay a minimal shipping fee.
Alen also offers a 60 day, money back guarantee for all of their air purifiers.
The Alen 45i air purifier comes backed by a lifetime guarantee as long as you register your product and subscribe to their filter services.
About Alen
Based in Austin, Texas, Alen is one of the leading air purifier manufacturers in the United States offering state of the art air purification products that are feature-heavy yet easy to use.
As a company, Alen commits itself to helping the community through donations and drives to those who need it the most.
Contact Alen
You can contact Alen through the help page on their website or you can call them on the phone.
- Phone – 1-800-630-2396
- Address – 9200 Waterford Centre, Blvd. Suite 600, Austin , TX 78758
FAQs
The CADR or clean air delivery rate for the Alen 45i air purifier is 245 CFM.
Alen air filters last up to 1 year, which is 6 months more than the industry standard of 6 months.
Alen air purification products are made in Austin, Texas, USA.
Conclusion
Although pricier than most air purifiers of its size, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i delivered outstanding results in a short period of time. The filters last 6 months longer than the industry standard which could help you save money in the long run.
The Alen 45i is easy to use and control and offers you the option to choose between different medical grade HEPA filters depending on your needs.
Next step: Try out the Alen 45i Air Purifier. We like it because it’s quiet, compact, and filters out most pollutants. If you aren’t sure which air purifier to buy, go with Alen.
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