You mention Pureburg filters here (critically) and elsewhere. Even though they affect the performance in this particular air purifier, does the mere mention imply that they're among the best 3rd-party filters? I should search your website for more on the issue, but it's tough to get good information on 3rd-party filters. Gemini suggests that Nispira and Flintar are among the best of the 3rd-party filter manufacturers, but Gemini is wrong at least as often as it's right.
I have also tested filters for the Levoit Vital 200S from GRN FIL and they had similar particle CADR to the OEM filters. https://geni.us/GenericVital200SFilter
I do want to test a lot more brands to see if this is the case across other units and brands.
I was very disappointed to discover that the unit is entirely made of plastic. In my lengthy communications with UK customer service, I was clear that one of my reasons for wanting their units was because they were in metal. I didn't realize that only their larger units are in metal and the SA600 is made of plastic. At no point, did the rep point out that this unit was a plastic model. And the smell was telling. It took an entire week for the smell, a mix of plastic, chemical, and even slightly smokey, to subside enough for me to put it in my bedroom, that was after running it on low-medium for days. And even now I detect a slight plastic-chemical smell in my bedroom.
Also, the separate filters, carbon and hepa, were supposed to add the advantage of being able to replace them separately. Well, sure, you can replace them separately, but you can't purchase them separately. which means that if one filter consistently needs changing much sooner than another, you will end up with an accumulation of extras of one type of filter that you don't need to change as often. That is bad news environmentally and financially.
When I mentioned this to the company reps, the reply I got was that their unit was fine to run with just Hepa, I don't have to buy both.
Do I need to explain why that is an inane answer?
It just keeps going with these people. Honestly, I wish I had never purchased from them. I can't afford to buy anything else right now and I certainly can't afford the loss if I were to ship it back to them.
They are refunding me the customs and admin fees (although their invoice makes it look like they are refunding me the shipping, which is also deceptive on their part.) They are calling it a "gesture of good will."
I will refrain from what I feel like saying to that.
So, as an update to my previous comment, the UK rep is no longer replying to my emails and appears to have washed his hands of the entire thing. As far as he's concerned, once it's in my country the rest is up to me.
I have sent repeated emails to DHL asking how to pay the customs fees and they have yet to send me the information.
I would say this, even if the unit turns out to be fabulous, to have to go through all of this to get it can not be worth it.
Neither the UK rep nor the US rep (owner?) will help me or reply to my messages anymore. They take no responsibility for the extra fees, all the difficulties I have encountered through the entire process, and the problems I am currently experiencing with their shipping company of choice. S
o as far as the entire purchasing, shipping and receiving process and customer service, are concerned well they're pretty bad if you're in the EU.
They should not be selling their items to EU customers if this is how they go about it.
Do NOT order from Italy and quite probably any other EU country. Smart Air does not have their act together and the expenses I am incurring as well as the colossal waste of my time and energy, before and after my purchase, to get this all sorted before I even receive the purchased and shipped item from them, is not worth it. I don't have the item yet, because DHL (the shipping company SA chose) has given me three different customs totals over the course of one week of constant emails back and forth. I ordered the SA600 as a bedroom unit because of the positive reviews here. I have not received it yet so I can't speak to its function. I do know that I wish I hadn't bothered.
I thought I was paying in Euros because on one website of theirs, they had 3 different websites at the time of my purchase, the price was in euros. When i switched to the other website, I thought it was also in euros. My mistake, but easy to make since I was flipping between three different websites to figure out which was the most economical and feasible option. I thought when I put in my address the price would change to euros as it had on the other website.
Just don't order from Smart Air if you are in the EU until they have gotten things straightened out, which could be a while, and be careful to check what currency the prices are quoted in.
I'm ending up paying about 350euros in total. And since I pay in dollars it's coming out to over 400 dollars all expenses included. That is not a cheap unit!
I see that the SA600 is said to be AHAM certified in this review, but I can't find SA600 (or Smart Air at all) on the database. Could you please point me to correct link. Thanks!
I see that the SA600 is said to be AHAM certified in this review, but I can't find SA600 (or Smart Air at all) on the database. Could you please point me to correct link. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words Ann! SmartAir uses 3 air changes per hour in their room size calculation vs the 4.8 that we use for our recommended room size. nnIf you were using it in the room that is already well-ventilated, the 3 air changes might be enough to meet the 5 air changes that are recommended: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ventilation/prevention/Aim-for-5.html#:~:text=Aim for at least 5,hour results in 5 ACH.nnBut if your room doesn't have any ventilation, then our calculation would be a better guide.
Thanks for the kind words Ann! SmartAir uses 3 air changes per hour in their room size calculation vs the 4.8 that we use for our recommended room size. nnIf you were using it in the room that is already well-ventilated, the 3 air changes might be enough to meet the 5 air changes that are recommended: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ventilation/prevention/Aim-for-5.html#:~:text=Aim for at least 5,hour results in 5 ACH.nnBut if your room doesn't have any ventilation, then our calculation would be a better guide.
Smart air says that the S600 can refresh the air in a 600 sq ft space four times in an hour. So, wouldn't this purifier be good for 600 sq ft space (rather just 450 sq ft)? Thanks for your great review : )
Smart air says that the S600 can refresh the air in a 600 sq ft space four times in an hour. So, wouldn't this purifier be good for 600 sq ft space (rather just 450 sq ft)? Thanks for your great review : )
You are right. I'm not sure how we had the 2 years, as it does seem high for a fairly small device. We are going to update this review soon with the latest 5-speed version, so we will make sure we update this then. Thanks for taking the time to let me know, thank you Angus.
You are right. I'm not sure how we had the 2 years, as it does seem high for a fairly small device. We are going to update this review soon with the latest 5-speed version, so we will make sure we update this then. Thanks for taking the time to let me know, thank you Angus.
Good question I assume it must be some way from the wall but I will look at getting the wall mounts and testing it for myself and will update the review to share my findings. As long as it not flat against the wall or too close, it shouldn't create an issue.
Good question I assume it must be some way from the wall but I will look at getting the wall mounts and testing it for myself and will update the review to share my findings. As long as it not flat against the wall or too close, it shouldn't create an issue.
I see you list this elsewhere as wall-mountable. How does it mount with intakes on both sides? I’m shopping for a wall mountable solution and the specs look great on this device, but can’t make sense of how it works on the wall.
I see you list this elsewhere as wall-mountable. How does it mount with intakes on both sides? I'm shopping for a wall mountable solution and the specs look great on this device, but can't make sense of how it works on the wall.
I have also tested filters for the Levoit Vital 200S from GRN FIL and they had similar particle CADR to the OEM filters.
https://geni.us/GenericVital200SFilter
I do want to test a lot more brands to see if this is the case across other units and brands.
Also, the separate filters, carbon and hepa, were supposed to add the advantage of being able to replace them separately. Well, sure, you can replace them separately, but you can't purchase them separately. which means that if one filter consistently needs changing much sooner than another, you will end up with an accumulation of extras of one type of filter that you don't need to change as often. That is bad news environmentally and financially.
When I mentioned this to the company reps, the reply I got was that their unit was fine to run with just Hepa, I don't have to buy both.
Do I need to explain why that is an inane answer?
It just keeps going with these people. Honestly, I wish I had never purchased from them. I can't afford to buy anything else right now and I certainly can't afford the loss if I were to ship it back to them.
They are refunding me the customs and admin fees (although their invoice makes it look like they are refunding me the shipping, which is also deceptive on their part.) They are calling it a "gesture of good will."
I will refrain from what I feel like saying to that.
I have sent repeated emails to DHL asking how to pay the customs fees and they have yet to send me the information.
I would say this, even if the unit turns out to be fabulous, to have to go through all of this to get it can not be worth it.
Neither the UK rep nor the US rep (owner?) will help me or reply to my messages anymore. They take no responsibility for the extra fees, all the difficulties I have encountered through the entire process, and the problems I am currently experiencing with their shipping company of choice. S
o as far as the entire purchasing, shipping and receiving process and customer service, are concerned well they're pretty bad if you're in the EU.
They should not be selling their items to EU customers if this is how they go about it.
I thought I was paying in Euros because on one website of theirs, they had 3 different websites at the time of my purchase, the price was in euros. When i switched to the other website, I thought it was also in euros. My mistake, but easy to make since I was flipping between three different websites to figure out which was the most economical and feasible option. I thought when I put in my address the price would change to euros as it had on the other website.
Just don't order from Smart Air if you are in the EU until they have gotten things straightened out, which could be a while, and be careful to check what currency the prices are quoted in.
I'm ending up paying about 350euros in total. And since I pay in dollars it's coming out to over 400 dollars all expenses included. That is not a cheap unit!