Winix Plasmawave 5300 Air Cleaner Review
Post date: September 20th, 2011
The Winix Plasmawave 5300 air cleaner is a model well worth checking out. It offers good value for the price. It has a three stage cleaning process combining a carbon pre-filter, a true HEPA filter and Winix’s own Plasmawave system which is very effective for destroying odors, allergens and micro-organisms. Its ozone levels are well within the prescribed limit and the Plasmawave which is the source of the ozone can be switched on or off.
It has a good control panel with indicators for HEPA filter replacement, fan speed, mode and air quality, as well as a remote control so that you don’t need to get up out of your chair!
The unit draws in air at the front and discharges it from the top at a forward angle.
Read the rest of the Winix Plasmawave 5300 Air Cleaner review below:
Table of Contents (click ahead!)
Filter Type Plasmawave Coverage Area Clean Air Delivery Rate
Features Noise Level Dimensions
Fan Speeds Customer Reviews Pros & Cons
Winix Plasmawave 5300 Air Cleaner Filter Type
The Winix Plasmawave 5300 air cleaner has a three stage cleaning process. The first stage is a carbon pre-filter to prevent the coarser airborne particles reaching and clogging up the true HEPA filter. It also serves the function of absorbing odors and volatile organic compounds. However, the thinness of the filter means it cannot be regarded as a serious odor and VOC absorber. That would require a good weight of carbon.
The second stage is a true HEPA filter captures particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency of 99.97%. An indicator light shows when it needs replacing which is usually around once per year.
The standard replacement filter pack for the model is the Winix 115115 which includes both the HEPA filter and four carbon filters. You should note that you can upgrade the filters and buy the Winix 9000 cartridge if you like (also listed as the Winix 119110 Ultimate Replacement filter). The Winix 9000 cartridge is a four stage filter system which includes:
- Anti-bacterial pre-filter
- True HEPA filter
- Nano-silver mesh shield (silver in this microscopic form is antimicrobial and kills 650 species of micro-organisms)
- Washable activated carbon filter.
If you upgrade to this cartridge it also requires annual replacement.
The third stage of the cleaning system is Winix’s own Plasmawave system which is very effective at removing smells, odors, mold, allergens and microorganisms. It can be switched on or off – so you can use it only when you need some extra cleaning power if you like.
Plasmawave Technology
As the air leaves the air cleaner, it passes through a corona discharge which creates negative and positive ions in the air. These ions combine with the water vapor in the air to from hydroxyl radicals which are basically a unit of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. Hydroxyl radicals are like nature’s silver bullets. They are very unstable and seek stability by stealing atoms from other molecules. In this process they destroy other polluting molecules in the air.
The molecules destroyed include viruses, bacteria, chemical vapors (volatile organic compounds), household odors from pets, tobacco smoke and cooking. The molecules destroyed form into water vapor or other harmless air molecules.
Check out the video below for an explanation of plasmawave from the Winix:
Fan Speed
The model has four fan speeds: low, medium, high and turbo. It also has an odor sensor which enables it to automatically adjust the fan speed when set to auto mode. The fan will automatically adjust between low, medium and high speeds according to the level of odor pollution in the air. An indicator shows the fan speed and another shows the level of odors in the air: green means acceptable levelsl, orange high levels and red very high levels.
You can set the air cleaner to manual, auto or sleep. In sleep mode, the fan is set to the low speed and in a darkened room the lights on the unit are dimmed.
Coverage Area
The Winix Plasmawave 5300 air cleaner is suitable for large rooms up to 350 square feet or around 19 feet by 19 feet. This means it’s suitable for most rooms. If you have it in a smaller room than the maximum size, it will be more efficient and do a better job on lower fan speeds.
The model should be positioned at least seven feet from any equipment that emits electric waves such as televisions or radios and also at least two feet from any wall.
Clean Air Delivery Rate
The Clean Air Delivery Rate is certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers after testing in independent third party laboratories. For the Winix Plasmawave 5300 air cleaner the results are :
| Type of Particle | CADR |
|---|---|
| Dust | 248 |
| Tobacco Smoke | 235 |
| Pollen | 251 |
AHAM specify that the tobacco smoke rating should be at least two thirds of the room size in square feet. This means this purifier is rated for a room of 350 square feet.
This model also satisfies the required ozone limits of 50 part per billion. In fact it produces less than 4 parts per billion.
Features
Here are some of the features of the Winix Plasmawave 5300:
- 3 stage cleaning process
- Auto mode which adjust fan speed automatically according to quality of air
- Indicator lights for fan speed, mode (manual, auto or sleep), intensity of odors in air (green, orange or red)
- Indicator light shows when HEPA filter needs replaceing
- Remote control
- Latest Plasmawave technology which can be turned off or on
- Energy Star approved
- Suitable for a large room.
Noise Level
One of the great points about this model is that it is super quiet on the low and medium speeds. For a lot of models the noise level is an issue for some people. No one has complained about the noise levels of this model on the lowest two setting. On the turbo setting it moves a great deal of air and is, of course, noisier. So, if noise has been an issue with you, this may be a model to consider.
Dimensions
The dimensions are 19 by 9.8 by 24 inches. The air purifier weighs 19 pounds.
Customer Reviews
As of this date, there are 96 reviews on Amazon. 87 reviews are 4 or 5 star and only 9 reviews are 1 to 3 star. This means the response to this Winix model has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The Winix 5300 on its lowest setting seems to be moving just as much air as my old air purifier (Bionaire) did on it’s highest setting and the Winix does it whisper quiet … (read more here: Winix Plasmawave 5300 Air Cleaner Review)”
” This thing moves a LOT of air on the turbo setting but it’s also pretty loud. We usually like the 3rd of the 4 settings the best. It still moves a lot of air and is just loud enough to be noticeable but not drown out the TV or conversations … (read more here: Winix Plasmawave 5300 Air Cleaner Review)”
Average Amazon Rating: 4.5
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Energy star approved
- Very quiet on low and medium speeds
- Has a remote control
- Excellent customer service
- Highly effective at removing smells with the Plasmawave
- Auto mode means you don’t need to change the fan speed manually unless you want to
- 1 year limited warranty
Cons:
- The sensor only detects odors and not particles. If you want dust and odor sensors, you’re going to have to get the more expensive Winix Plasmawave 9000.
For current pricing information of the Winix Plasmawave 5300 air cleaner, follow this link:
Features Overview:
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