Should you buy the Aldi air purifier?
Need to know
A season of bushfires and growing concerns over how poor air quality is affecting our health has prompted many Australians to look into buying an air purifier.
There are multiple options on the market, from stand-alone air purifiers that can cost up to $799 to fans and air conditioners that include air purifiers as an added feature (you can find out more about these in our handy buying guide).
Air purifiers can help clear the air inside your home of pollutants such as smoke and smoky smells, so can help prevent irritation to your breathing, eyes or skin. This is particularly useful if you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions.
If you're in the market for an air purifier, and you're interested in looking at budget options, Aldi is selling their 'Easy Home' air purifier as a Special Buy this Saturday 1 February for $99.99. Aldi Special Buys are available for a limited time only, and only while stocks last in store, so read up on what our experts say about this model and whether you should buy it.
CHOICE verdict
Our view is that the Aldi Easy Home air purifier is not likely to be as effective as more expensive brand-name models, however the price is attractive and it's probably a 'better-than-nothing' option.
Aldi Easy Home air purifier
What features does the Aldi air purifier have?
What are the cons of the Aldi Easy Home air purifier?
Low Clean Air Delivery Rating
CHOICE household expert, Chris Barnes, says: "The CADR of 110m³/h looks quite low compared to other models on the market."
"The Aldi model claims to suit a room of 20–40 square metres. Other air purifiers that claim to suit rooms in that size range have much bigger claimed CADR values. For example, the Blueair 205 claims to serve a room up to 26 square metres, and a claimed CADR of 200 cubic feet per minute, or 336m³/h," he says.
No HEPA filter
"You should also note that this model has an EPA filter rather than a HEPA filter," says Chris. "These are two different things. EPA is a term used for filters a class or two below HEPA filtration, and can be significantly less effective at catching the very fine particles such as smoke."
It should be noted, though, that some more expensive models include HEPA filters but still performed poorly in our reviews.
What are the pros of the Aldi Easy Home air purifier?
Price
An obvious pro is that this model is cheap. At just under $100, this is one of the cheapest air purifiers we've seen on the Australian market. The models we've tested and reviewed range in price from $399 to $799.
Carbon filter
This model also has an activated carbon filter, which isn't included in other more expensive models we've tested, such as the $699 Blueair air purifier. A carbon filter is said to be good for trapping odours and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as formaldehyde.
Aldi told us that although you won't be able to buy replacement filters for this model in their stores, you'll be able to contact the manufacturer directly to do so, and instructions are provided with the model.
Other features
The timer and multiple fan settings, as well as the filter change indicator (which will alert you as to when you need new filters), are all positives of this model, however these features are usually commonly found in many other models.
The night mode might be useful if it genuinely reduces background noise and you want to run the air purifier overnight or in a study space for example –our testers noted that some air purifiers can be loud.
CHOICE tip: As well as how effective they are at clearing dust and pollen and removing smoke particles, our reviews of air purifiers also consider factors such as noise, settings and ease of use.
Things to consider before you buy
When choosing an air purifier, our experts recommend you look especially closely at the CADR and consider the size of the room you will be using it in.
You should also look at the types of filters included and extra features such as sensors and warning indicators (to change the filters), whether there's a range of fan settings, and if the machine is portable (if you'd like to move it around from room to room).
The cost of replacement filters is also a factor to consider before you buy. Costs vary between brands and models, and replacement filters for the models we've tested can range from about $55 to $89 each.
CHOICE tip: Consider stocking up on replacement filters when you buy in case the model you invest in is discontinued.
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