In search of a reliable air purifier for my home, I stumbled upon the HP04 Dyson Pure Hot + Cool air purifier being sold at my local Costco. Intrigued by its hefty price tag and promises of superior performance, I decided to delve deeper into its features, specifications, and customer reviews.
Key Features
At first glance, the Dyson Air Purifier appears to offer a range of impressive functions. It serves as an air purifier, cooling fan, and warming heater, all in one sleek unit. You have the option to control it using the remote control, the Dyson Link app on your smartphone, or even through voice commands when connected to an Alexa device.
The unit boasts an oscillation capability of up to 350 degrees and offers 10 speed settings for the fan. With physical dimensions of 8 x 8 x 30 inches and a weight of 12.5 pounds, it is a compact and manageable device. Additionally, the Dyson Air Purifier is backed by a two-year warranty.
Equipped with a front panel display, the unit provides real-time updates on various pollutants present in the air, such as particulates, VOCs, and nitrous oxides.
Performance
Initially, I had high expectations for the Dyson Air Purifier, given its reputation. However, my research led me to an unexpected discovery - the Dyson falls short in terms of air purification performance.
Despite claims in their sales literature that the Dyson is designed to surpass industry standards, it turns out that the unit does not prioritize air purification to the extent one might expect. The focus seems to be more on providing a comfortable home environment, rather than delivering exceptional air quality.
This reality is further highlighted in a video by the Canadian news outlet CBC, where a homemade air purifier is shown to outperform the Dyson. Even a Dyson engineer interviewed by CBC admits that their primary focus is on the user experience rather than meeting industry standards.
The Significance of CADR
One metric that exposes the Dyson's shortcomings is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This measure evaluates how quickly an air purifier cleans the air in a room. The higher the CADR, the faster the purification process.
In general, it is recommended to choose an air purifier with a CADR value that is at least two-thirds the area of the room. However, the Dyson Air Purifier fails to disclose its CADR on any packaging or company literature. This lack of transparency raises concerns about its effectiveness in different-sized rooms.
Purification Capabilities
Setting aside the debate over the importance of speed in air purification, it is worth noting that the Dyson does possess a HEPA and charcoal filter, both of which effectively remove particulates and organic compounds from the air. However, it lacks a UV bulb, which can help eliminate airborne viruses - a feature found in much cheaper alternatives, such as the Homedics air purifier available at Costco.
Cooling Ability
One of the selling points of the Dyson Air Purifier is its bladeless fan and "Air Multiplier Technology," which promises to keep you cool. However, it falls short of expectations in comparison to a basic $15 fan from Walmart. The Dyson fan is louder and moves less air, as demonstrated in a video comparison.
Warming Heater Performance
On the other hand, the Dyson Air Purifier excels as a warming heater. You have the ability to set and maintain your desired temperature, up to approximately 98°F. Reviews consistently praise its exceptional heating capabilities. The only drawback reported is the inability to adjust the temperature using the Dyson Link app, as current safety standards do not allow portable heaters to be controlled in this manner.
Costco Value
The Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 is available at Costco for $549, while Home Depot sells the same model for $649. By purchasing it from Costco, you can save $100 (15%) compared to the price at Home Depot. However, considering the overall performance and value, I find myself leaning towards the more affordable Winix AM80.
Ultimately, it seems that the Dyson Air Purifier at Costco may not live up to the expectations set by its reputation. While it offers a sleek design and a range of features, such as air purification, cooling, and heating, its performance in key areas falls short when compared to more reasonably priced alternatives.
