An expert guide to buy the best air purifier with permanent filter – No further cost to maintain

Want the best air purifier with permanent filter? Read this before buying.

Air purifiers ensure fresh and clean indoor air, but they are an investment. Although the initial price may be worth considering, they can become too expensive to run over time.

Most air purifiers are fitted with HEPA and activated carbon filters, which require regular replacement. These can quickly become costly, and this is why having an air purifier with a washable, reusable permanent filter can be more cost-efficient as they save you money in the long run.

There are so many types of air purifiers in the market today, and many of them don’t use washable or reusable filters. They need regular replacement.

Such air purifying devices use filters that need to be replaced routines at least every 3-6 months to fulfill their function and maintain their effectiveness. So, owning a device that needs filter replacement takes a long-term, committed investment.

However, a few best air purifiers with permanent filters don’t cost anything to maintain. There is no further cost to maintain these devices, and that makes them a much more worthwhile investment. 

What is HEPA type permanent filter?

A permanent HEPA type filter is exactly what the name suggests. It is a permanent version of HEPA filter. It is just as effective as normal HEPA filters and can remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The good thing about it is that there are no additional replacement costs.
 
While permanent HEPA filters will work forever, in theory, they do need cleaning, monthly or every three months. 

Why do you need an air purifier with permanent filter?

Air purifiers that use a permanent filter can run for a long time without increasing the overall cost.
 
✔ Saving money: While the price of an air purifier may be affordable, frequent replacement ranging between every three months and every 12 months can become costly. Replacement filters are also usually expensive.

✔ Removing common pollutants: Reusable filters are either washable HEPA filters or iFD filters. These differ in effectiveness by 0.2 percent, and both of these can capture almost all pollutants such as dust, mold spores, and pollen.

✔ Cleaning when needed: Washable filters can be cleaned whenever necessary. A periodic check on the filters will suffice. The more regularly you clean it, the more efficiently it will function.

✔ Easy maintenance: Cleaning the filters is easily done. They can be either vacuumed or rinsed.

Which is the best air purifier with permanent filter in 2021?

An air purifier with a washable filter is best, i.e., if you don’t want to change the filter and spend extra money to purchase a new one.

It’s always wise to invest in an air purifier with a permanent filter. It is reusable and can be affordable in the long run. You will not have to replace the filter every few months.  Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with Washable AOC Carbon Filter is our top pick.

How we selected the best air purifier for this article?

Selecting the best air purifier can be a daunting task as there are quite a few models with washable and permanent filters. Naturally, you would want to buy one that is easy to maintain and costs little to nothing on its upkeep. 

Below, is a list of reviewed air purifiers with reusable filters and their pros and cons.

6 Best Air Purifiers With Permanent Filters (October 2024)

To help you make the right choice of air purifier with permanent filters, we have reviewed some of the best air purifiers available and highlighted the important aspects of these top performing products.

Our Verdict

With an eye to helping you make the right choice in air purifiers, we have reviewed several units in the market, and our verdict is the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto Large Area Air Purifier with Auto mode for allergies, pollen, dust smoke, pet dander with HEPASilent technology and washable pre-filter. It is the best value for money and has all the features you need. It comes with a 4-level filtration system, permanent and washable pre-filter, True HEPA filter, in-built odor sensor that detects pollution, has an auto mode, and has an AHAM-verified CADR.

Best Air with Permanent Filter Buying Guide [Important Things To Keep In Mind Before You Buy]

Before buying air purifiers for your rooms, there are a few factors to keep in mind. A few decades ago, air purifiers were considered almost a luxury when you already had an HVAC unit installed. You had ways of keeping the air cool or warm depending on the weather conditions.

You could also include a humidifier to maintain the relative humidity balance indoors. Humidifiers could keep the air as moist as it is healthy because some regions contain very dry air. And, you could also install dehumidifiers that could remove excess moisture from the air. Both of these serve a function, and that is to keep the right levels of humidity.

However, with the high levels of air pollution these days, caused by climate change and the vast number of vehicles, the viruses and bacteria floating in the air, the energy drawn from fossil fuels, there is serious concern about how harmful these air contaminants can be. Even those that start out with a healthy pair of lungs can feel the impact of air pollution.

Therefore, it is essential to understand relevant factors before investing in a unit that can save your health in the long term because you would want the air purifier to fulfil its entire purpose.

1. Technology:

Air purifiers contain a pre-filter and several layers of other filters, some of which need to be changed periodically. The technology behind the filters is key to providing optimum protection from air pollutants.

Newer air purifiers come with patented technologies that use sensors to register the level of pollution, capture the most microscopic pollutants, and recirculate purified air.

2. Room size:

Measuring the room is essential if you want to buy an air purifier that will work well for the room. Air purifiers come in different sizes and vary in price based on the technology and the coverage area. The right air purifier would depend on the room’s square footage.

Ideally, the right unit should be able to purify the air and exceed the room’s size.

3. ACH (air change per hour): 

Paying attention to the air change per hour will help, i.e., the number of times the air purifier can clean the total volume of air in the room within the hour. Usually, air purifiers with more than 4 ACH are considered more effective in removing microscopic particles from the air. 

4. Type of filter:

Air purifiers have pre-filters and more layers of filters that may need to regular replacement. 
The air goes through the pre-filter when it is operational, which captures the large particles, pet dander, and pet hair before the air moves through other filters. 99.97% of the pollutants get trapped or prevented from entering the room. 

5. CADR:

The CADR is an important consideration as it measures the volume of air that can be cleaned at its maximum speed setting. You would do well to choose an air purifier that has a higher CADR because it can purify air at a faster rate. 

6. Noise levels:

You would want to have air purifiers that are quiet. It makes sense to buy an air purifier with a low decibel level to purify the air in your home or office. So, look for one that has a noise rating of less than 50 dB. 

Additional features in the more recent models include the WiFi-enabled air purifier and sensors to gauge air quality and indicators to give you real-time updates on indoor air quality.