Blueair 503 and Blueair 550E Air Purifiers

Description

Blueair air purifiers are a responsible choice for clean air. If you're looking for an environmentally friendly air purifier to clear your home of allergens like dust, mold and pollen, the Blueair Air Purifier is for you. These air purifiers feature 100% recyclable filters and are energy star qualified. The ever popular Blueair 500 series is now available in two new models, the 503 standard model for rooms up to 580 sq. ft. and the 550E Digital model for rooms up to 605 sq. ft.. The 503 model includes a magnetic filter change indicator and the 550E digital model features extra perks like a remote control, built-in filter change indicator, dust and gas sensors, auto-mode, and timer function. Both models are available with HEPASilent particle and gas filters or the more robust SmokeStop filters for better smoke, gas, and odor removal.

Features

• Three-stage Air Filtration: patented HEPASilent™ filtration technology combines mechanical and electrostatic filtration to remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants 0.1 micron or larger
• Choice of Filters:
  • HEPASilent Particle and Gas Filters: 3 HEPASilent™ filters of polypropylene with a very small amount of activated carbon. Recommended for general indoor air pollution control including pollen grains, house dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and light gases and odors.
  • SmokeStop Carbon Filters: 3 SmokeStop™ filters of polypropylene with 5.3 lbs. of activated coconut shell carbon impregnated with an equal blend of Potassium Iodide (KI), Phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Recommended for smoke, gases, odors, chemicals, and general indoor air pollution control including pollen grains, house dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander.
• Digital "E" Models: have electronic control panel with digital LED display, push button controls, magnetic remote control that operates all functions from a distance of up to 20 ft., replace filter light, particle sensor, gas sensor, timer, and auto-mode that runs the air purifier according to the particle and gas sensors to maintain air quality
• Filter Change Indicator: included with 503 models, this magnetic timer reminds you to change your filters every 6 months as recommended for optimal performance of your Blueair air purifier. The filter change indicator is a timer that counts down from 182 days (6 months). The timer is independent of actual run time. When 15 days remain to filter change, the blue LED light will flash. There is a snooze button that will let you turn it off for five days at a time. When 0 days remain, change the filters and reset the timer for another 182 days (6 months).
• Low cost to run: energy star qualified and only requires as much energy as a single light bulb: 35 watts on low to 120 watts on high. (uses 35% less energy to operate than comparable units)
• Durable steel construction: the grills and powder-coated steel exterior are easy to wipe clean, and won't pick up grime or oily stains the way plastics can, and they do not off-gas
• SurroundAir™ technology diffuses clean air gently: instead of discharging a windy stream of filtered air, the Blueair diffuses air gently through an area six times greater than the average air cleaner; operating on its lowest setting Blueair produces virtually no noticeable draft, while still providing an exceptional air exchange rate
• Environmentally safe filter media: Blueair replaces standard triclosan-coated paper or glass filter fibers, which can harm the environment when released into the waste stream, with safer, nontoxic polypropylene. This revolutionary filter media is one of the least harmful plastics, producing only carbon dioxide and water as it decomposes - used filters are 100% recyclable, and release no toxins into landfills or the air
• Filters resist contamination: because polypropylene is waterproof, Blueair filters naturally resist contamination from bacteria, viruses and mold, without chemical additives or weekly washes
• Easy to change filters: simply open the lid, lift out the old filters and drop the new ones in - no screws, hooks or tools needed; Filters should be changed every 6 months
• Certified Performance: each unit is tested and certified to deliver 99.97% filtration efficiency. Blueair air purifiers are durable and carry a 5-year limited warranty

Model Choices

Blueair 503 Air Purifier with HEPASilent Filters	Blueair 503 Air Purifier with HEPASilent Filters Size: 26"H x 20W" x 13"D Cleaning range: cleans air in rooms up to 580 sq. ft. Fan speeds: 4 Controls: manual dial Included Filters: 3 HEPASilent™ filters of polypropylene (traps particles) with a very small amount of activated carbon (removes some gases and odors) Recommended for: general indoor air pollution control including pollen grains, house dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and light household gases and odors
Blueair 503 Air Purifier with Smokestop Filters	Blueair 503 Air Purifier with Smokestop Filters Size: 26"H x 20W" x 13"D Cleaning range: cleans air in rooms up to 580 sq. ft. Fan speeds: 4 Controls: manual dial Included Filters: 3 SmokeStop™ filters of polypropylene with 5.3 lbs. of activated coconut shell carbon impregnated with an equal blend of Potassium Iodide (KI), Phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Recommended for: gas, odor and chemical control as well as general indoor air pollution control including pollen grains, house dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander
Blueair 550E Digital Air Purifiers with HEPASilent Filters	Blueair 550E Digital Air Purifiers with HEPASilent Filters Size: 26"H x 20W" x 13"D Cleaning range: cleans air in rooms up to 605 sq. ft. Fan speeds: 4 Auto Mode: electronic gas and particle sensors automatically adjust the operating speed according to the level of airborne particles and gaseous compounds Controls: Digital display, push button controls with remote Included Filters: 3 HEPASilent™ filters of polypropylene (traps particles) with a very small amount of activated carbon (removes some gases and odors) Recommended for: general indoor air pollution control including pollen grains, house dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and light household gases and odors

Setup/Care

The exterior grills are easy to wipe clean and the filters needs to be replaced every six months.

How it Works

Blueair 500 Series SurroundAir™ system achieves peak performance without annoying drafts by drawing in dirty air from the sides and bottom moving it through a less dense filter media, and releasing clean, filtered air from the sides and top.

Click to enlarge

Reviews

Expert Review

The Blueair air purifiers are our air cleaner of choice for medium to large bedrooms and living areas (up to 580-605 sq. ft.) where you want a quiet air purifier to run consistently without a significant increase to your electricity bill. Operating on the lowest speed the Blueair is virtually silent making just a slight whisper sound and uses only 35 watts! These air purifiers also use nontoxic Polypropylene HEPA-type filters with electrostatic filtration technologies that has scored them very high Clean Air Delivery Ratings. These filters do not have the lifespan of a true HEPA, but under normal use and with the ability to vacuum them; we found that the filters will remain effective longer than 6 months. However, to keep your warranty valid, Blueair recommends you replace them twice a year nonetheless. This helps prevent you from using your filters long after their useful life has passed.

Technical Specifications

	Blueair 503 Air Purifier with HEPASilent Filters	Blueair 550E Digital Air Purifiers with HEPASilent Filters
Air Purifiers Cleaning Capacity	580 sq. ft.	605 sq. ft.
Housing	Putty color; Galvanized Swedish steel	Putty color; Galvanized Swedish steel
Filters included	HEPASilent Filters: 3 particle & gas filters Smokestop Filters: 3 particle filters with 5.3 lbs. of activated carbon for better smoke, gas, chemical and odor removal	HEPASilent Filters: 3 particle & gas filters Smokestop Filters: 3 particle filters with 5.3 lbs. of activated carbon for better smoke, gas, chemical and odor removal
Air Purifiers Filter Materials	Nontoxic polypropylene filter media to trap particles and activated carbon filter media to remove gases. 100% free of harmful triclosan, and glass fibers.	Nontoxic polypropylene filter media to trap particles and activated carbon filter media to remove gases. 100% free of harmful triclosan, and glass fibers.
Avg. air filter life	6 months	6 months
Fan Speeds	4 speeds	4 speeds plus auto-mode
Air Flow Rate for fan speeds (cfm = cubic feet per minute)	1= 88 cfm 2= 117 cfm 3= 247 cfm 4= 450 cfm	1= 88 cfm 2= 117 cfm 3= 247 cfm 4= 450 cfm
Air purifiers noise level (decibels)	1= 35 dba 2= 37 dba 3= 49 dba 4= 71 dba	1= 35 dba 2= 37 dba 3= 49 dba 4= 71 dba
Clean air density rate (CADR): The amount of clean air measured in cubic ft. per min. that is delivered	Smoke = 375, Dust = 375, Pollen = 375	Smoke = 390, Dust = 390, Pollen = 390
Mobility of Air Purifiers	Unit is easy to move and is on 4 wheels - no carry handles (must carry by holding it from the bottom)	Unit is easy to move and is on 4 wheels - no carry handles (must carry by holding it from the bottom)
Display panel - Indicators	None	Digital LED display with filter change indicator, particle sensor, gas sensor, auto mode and timer
Air purifier control type	Manual	Electronic with remote control
Power Consumption	35-120 Watts	35-120 Watts
Ozonation	no ozone emission	no ozone emission
Remote Control	no	yes
Size of air purifier	26" H x 20" W x 13" D	26" H x 20" W x 13" D
Weight	35 lbs.	35 lbs.

Efficiency

Energy Star Certified: unusual in the air purifier industry. The 500 series use only 35 watts on low and 90 watts on high

Environmentally safe filter media: Blueair replaces standard triclosan-coated paper or glass filter fibers, which can harm the environment when released into the waste stream, with safer, nontoxic polypropylene. This revolutionary filter media is one of the least harmful plastics, producing only carbon dioxide and water as it decomposes. Blueair even uses a special powder coat finish that produces no chemical out-gassing. Used filters are 100% recyclable, and release no toxins into landfills or the air.

Warranty

5 year warranty

Summary

These extremely energy efficient machines clean the air effectively while being virtually silent on low settings. They use nontoxic polypropylene filters that are 100% recyclable so they aren't harmful to the environment once they've been disposed of. Since they are guaranteed for 5 years, it takes a while for them to go into the waste stream. Blueair is so trusted by us that our president has two of these air purifiers in her home. If your indoor environment is polluted with smoke, gas, chemicals, or odors, we recommend purchasing the Blueair with SmokeStop filters. The New 550E digital model has a lot of little user-friendly extras including a remote control and a filter change indicator to tell when it's time to replace the filter - very helpful!