Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier – In-Depth Review

It has a simple design, and the black color makes it mainly neutral in any atmosphere. Also, it is equipped with a lot of advanced features and functions that are covered in depth in this Winix 5500-2 review. The 4-stage air purification is the core of this Winix 5500-2 device. AOC Carbon filter, Pre-Filter, Winix PlasmaWave technology, and True HEPA filter makes this unit effective in fighting air pollution.

• Winix 5500-2 is a really powerful machine intended for spaces up to 360 square feet.
• It comes with many advanced features like Filter Reset Indicator, PlasmaWave, a Light Sensor, and Auto Mode.
• Winix provides a two-year warranty for this machine.
• It features a smart sensor that will track indoor air quality in real-time.
• Winix 5500-2 makes use of 4-stage filtration, which will efficiently clean the air in the space.

Specifications Of The Winix 5500-2:

Design:

The Winix 5500-2 is an elegant air purifier created of high-quality material. A lot of users find this device design a little out-of-date, but for us, it is acceptable. Straightforward design with neutral black color permits placing this air purifier in almost any space.

The air intake is displayed on the front panel and also on every side. The great thing is that the air is released on top of this unit once filtered. This feature is helpful because air will not flow directly into you if you are standing in front of it.

On top of the air purifier’s front is located the control panel, which has a lot of choices and will provide you ultimate control. Above the control buttons, you can see LED indicators, which specify what features are active currently.

Also, there’s an extremely long LED indicator just under the PlasmaWave Button, and the purpose is to light in diverse colors, relying on the current air quality. Behind its control panel, you can see a handle for more effortless transport. Winix 5500-2 is also simply transported because it’s not really heavy.

Control Panel; Initial Operations:

The control panel makes use of buttons in place of the touch panel. In simple words, that denotes you’ll have to push the button, and just putting the finger on its button will not do anything. However, the buttons are simple to press, and that’ll not show any issues for you to control the Winix 5500-2.

Once you plug it in, all the lights on the machine will light on for some secs, and you’ll hear a sound. Now you know the air purifier is all set to use. There are five main buttons that can be utilized to control the machine:

• Fan Speed Button:

Hitting the Fan Speed button will switch on the manual mode, and then you’ll be capable of selecting the preferred fan’s speed. Every press on the button will change its fan speed.

• PlasmaWave:

There’s also a PlasmaWave button, and once it’s on, there’ll be a light indicating so.

• Mode Button:

You can switch between sleep mode and auto mode by simply pressing the Mode button.

• Power Button:

Pushing its Power button will either turn your air purifier on or off. Through the initial thirty secs of power-up, the air quality indicator will cycle through red, amber, and blue colors.

• Timer:

To decide how long you desire the 5500-2 to function, you require the Timer button. You can pick a diverse time, and the air purifier will shut down automatically after the chosen time passes. This Winix permits you to set the timer to 1 hour, 4 hours, or 8 hours.

Dimensions And Size:

Winix 5500-2 is a very light air purifier; it weighs just 14.7 lb. Its handle is quite useful when moving it from space to space. Regarding the size, it is a pretty big air purifier with dimensions of 8.2 x 15.0 x 23.6 inches. Such a huge air purifier might show an issue locating a sweet spot in the space. Simply make certain it’s twelve to eighteen inches away from your Radio, TV, and other electronic devices, and move it at least four inches from your wall.

What Is In The Box?

When purchasing the Winix 5500-2 air purifier, you get the air purifier, an AOC Carbon Filter, a pre-filter, remote control, a True HEPA filter, and a user manual in the package box.

First Start-up And Filter Installation:

Before the initial startup, you have to prepare your machine and install its filter. Filters are inside your air purifier wrapped in a plastic bag that has to be removed. If you fail to do that, you might damage your unit.

First of all, be certain that your air purifier is unplugged from the power. Take out the front panel by simply grabbing it at the top and pulling it forward gently. Once removed, you’ll see a bag with filters. Pull them out and get rid of the plastic bag.

Now you can cautiously install the filters. They have to fit inside perfectly in the correct order. First goes the True HEPA filter, then the AOC Carbon filter, and finally, the Pre-filter. Furthermore, you need to get the remote controller ready by pulling out the plastic protection that keeps its battery safe from wearing.

Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier Video Review:

Features:

Winix 5500-2 is packed with advanced features that we rarely find in other tested air purifiers. It’s not a smart air purifier and cannot be connected to the application, but it comes with all the other features that the modern air purifier ought to have.

• Air Quality Indicator:

The air quality indicator will visually display the air quality in the space; as long as the air purifier is turned on, you’ll see the LED line that will release light according to the pollution level. If the air quality is great, the Indicator Light will be blue; amber light specifies fair air quality; however, the red light denotes poor air quality.

• Air Quality Sensor:

The air quality sensor is an advanced technology that senses air quality in real-time. Thanks to this feature, the air quality indicator can alter lights according to the contamination in the air, and the auto mode can switch between the fan speeds. Unluckily, the smart sensor can just detect smell pollution and is basically a smell sensor. It can’t detect other types of contamination, like pollen, dust, and other neutral odor pollution. I suggest the Winix 5500-2 to the people who are searching for the air purifier that will assist them in fighting against the smells like cigarette or wildfire smoke. A smart sensor detects just smells and requires approximately four minutes to detect smell levels in the space.

• PlasmaWave:

Winix PlasmaWave is an advanced technology that assists in getting rid of dangerous airborne pollution. PlasmaWave will launch automatically at the initial startup. But you can control that using the PlasmaWave button on its control panel.

If you hear a buzzing or chirping sound while PlasmaWave is on, that’s totally normal and an indication that big particles pass through it. A lot of individuals aren’t acquainted with the PlasmaWave option, therefore doubtful and evade utilizing it.

Actually, you ought not to be anxious because the Winix is CARB certified and completely safe to make use of. Ozone might concern individuals with a fear of it. PlasmaWave emits ozone; however, I’m certain it releases very little ozone that’s well below the risk level. Or else this machine won’t be CARB certified.

• Auto Mode:

Not all the air purifiers come with the auto mode. This mode needs sensors to spot pollution, permitting the air purifier to switch fan speed according to the contamination levels. Auto mode can easily be switched on by pressing the Mode button. The smart sensor on Winix 5500-2 detects just smells, so you’ll find the auto mode the most practical choice if you frequently cook or smoke in the space.

• Washable Filters:

Both carbon filter and pre-filter are washable and have to be periodically cleaned. I recommend cleaning the pre-filter every two to three weeks and the carbon filter every three months. Also, you ought to replace the carbon filter each year because it loses its effectiveness over time.

• Filter Replacement Indicator:

The True HEPA filter has to be replaced every twelve months. Thanks to its filter replacement indicator, you certainly know when it’s time to replace its filter. Once the filter is replaced, you have to reset the filter replacement indicator by simply hitting the reset button using a needle. Winix 5500-2 air purifier comes with a lot of advanced features, and that is what puts it above the competition.

• Remote Control:

Almost all choices this device comes with, you can control using remote control from a fair distance. Batteries are included in the package, as well as the wall mount. The remote control is a useful addition to this machine. It permits you to control almost all the choices this air purifier comes with. With the remote controller, you can switch on/off your device, switch to Auto or Turbo mode with just one press, and change its fan speeds.

• Sleep Mode:

You can switch to sleep mode by simply hitting the Mode button. In this mode, the air purifier becomes remarkably silent. In fact, you’ll not be certain if it really works. An extra and important feature of the Auto mode is that it notices a light in the space, and if there’s darkness, your air purifier will switch to the sleep mode right away.

While in the sleep mode, all the lights will be shut down except the sleep mode one, which will release low light to make certain you know the sleep mode is on but, at the same time, will not disturb your sleep.

Room Coverage:

It’s optimistic because the Winix 5500-2 can be utilized in large and small spaces. However, it’s intended for a 360 sq. ft. space. In that space, it’ll be the most effective. CADR scores for pollen are 246, dust 243, and smoke 232. CFM score in the sleep mode is 35.31, medium speed 91.82, low speed 70, 63, turbo mode is 240.14, and high speed 123.60.

These scores show efficiency at diverse speeds. You have seen that the air purifier is seven times more useful in the turbo mode than in the sleep mode. This result proposes that you ought to always start the air purifier in the turbo mode and let it run for a little time (let’s say ten minutes) at that speed. Then, you can switch on the auto mode or manually select the lower speed.

The Filtration Technology Of Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier:

I suggest purchasing the original Winix filters because, just in that way, you can be certain the air purifier is optimally functioning. The Winix 5500-2 makes use of a 4-stage filtration technology that consists of an AOC carbon filter, a pre-filter, PlasmaWave Technology, and a True HEPA filter.

The first three filtration stages are a must-use, but the final one, the PlasmaWave technology, can be switched on/off. I especially love the fact that the Winix 5500-2 air purifier makes use of a True HEPA filter and that the overall quality of the filters is extremely high.

• Pre-Filter:

Pre-filter is the first filtration level, which denotes all big particles like pet hair, hair, dust particles, and similar are trapped on it. This filter looks like a mosquito net; it gets filthy fast and needs regular cleaning. It’s recommended to clean it every two weeks. Regular vacuuming of its pre-filter will keep the effectiveness of the air purifier at a high level and will also prolong the lifespan of its True HEPA filter.

• Washable AOC Carbon Filter:

The Winix 5500-2 makes use of a big carbon filter, which is created from the carbon pellets. This filter is the most worthy for a wonderful performance on getting rid of smells. When talking about carbon filters, air purifiers frequently have fibrous filters coated with pellet-based carbon or carbon filters. The thing is that the more carbon a filter comes with, the more competent it is.

The pellet-based carbon filter can tarp more smells than the fibrous filter. So, that is what makes the Winix 5500-2 air purifier an extremely good option for decreasing smells. Additionally, it’s washable, so you can basically clean it and refresh it in that way.

• True HEPA Filter:

I’ve discussed the True HEPA filter several times. True HEPA is powerful enough to get rid of 99.97 percent of airborne particles from the air bigger than 0.3 microns. This filter is the 3rd filtration stage, and it’s the most important part of Winix’s filtration procedure. This filter assists you in removing virus particles, allergens, mold, pollen, and fungi particles. Remember that the True HEPA filter isn’t washable!

How Can You Replace Winix 5500-2 Filters?

The ACO Carbon and True HEPA Filters have to be replaced about every twelve months. Since Winix 5500-2 comes with the filter indicator, you’ll accurately know when to replace filters. Replacing its filter is as easy as the first startup setup.

If you have any issues or feel uncomfortable replacing its filters on Winix, follow the below guide. Relying on the environment where you make use of the air purifier, its filters can get unclean much faster and need replacement much earlier than the suggested twelve months.

Total time: 10 minutes.

• First of all, switch the device’s power off. Right after that, take out the front panel by grasping the upper edge and pulling forward gently.
• After that, take out the pre-filter by simply pressing the tabs near the top > pull out the old True HEPA and AOC Carbon filters.
• It’d be great to vacuum the inside of its cover, the pre-filter, and the air inlet to get rid of undesired dust.
• The final step is to take out the new filters from the protective wrap > insert them into the unit. The True HEPA filter goes first, and then the AOC Carbon filter.
• After replacing its filters, switch the power cable into the device and then make use of a thin object, like a needle or a paperclip, and press the Reset button for five seconds to reset the filter indicator.

Noise Test:

Personally, I love when the air purifier has a lot of diverse fan speeds. Having five diverse speed choices makes the Winix 5500-2 a consumer-friendly machine because it provides the choice to each user to adapt the fan speed to their own requirements.

The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is extremely quiet in sleep mode, and that is why I suggested utilizing it in the bedroom or any other similar space. In the turbo mode, the unit is numerous times louder than at the first speed. A lot of users will locate noise at the highest speed irritable. Conversely, the sleep mode is extremely silent like the 1st and the 2nd speeds. So, again, I’d say that having these speeds is a huge benefit for the Winix 5500-2. Check all the noise results below.

Performance Tests:

The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is one of the top devices you can find on the market. The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is an outstanding air purifier, and you’ll be proud of its performance, especially in your kitchen. The Winix 5500-2 performs great in diverse situations. Remember that the 5500-2 is created for a 360 sq. ft. space, and there’s a PlasmaWave technology choice that additionally improves the quality of air in a room.

The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is a powerful device that gets rid of dust right away, and you’ll see that just after some minutes from switching it on. Winix 5500-2 air purifiers can assist users who suffer from different allergies or have other respiratory issues linked to air contamination.

Also, you have to comprehend that the Winix 5500-2 is 3.5x more helpful on the turbo speed than on 1st speed. Therefore, it is suggested to make use of it on the 4th speed for quite some time to bring the air quality to the preferred level. After that, you can switch it to a lower speed. If the space is full of dirt, first utilize turbo mode for cleaning all the dust and then turn it on the auto mode.

• 320 Square Feet Room Test (Auto Mode):

The 1st test was conducted in a space with slightly smaller dimensions than the suggested one. We utilized the machine on the auto mode with the PlasmaWave technology on, and the Air Quality was improved by ninety-three percent. The AQI was lowered from 289 to twenty-one in just an hour.

• 320 Square Feet Room Test (Turbo Mode):

In the 2nd test, we’ve utilized turbo mode with the PlasmaWave technology on to check the difference between outcomes. In just seven minutes, the air purifier managed to drop the air quality below fifty, which is an indication of good air. In just thirty minutes, Winix improved the air quality by ninety-four percent. AQI dropped from 141 to nine, and after sixty minutes of work, the Winix improved the air quality by about ninety-six percent.

These are unbelievable results. By this testing, I agree that it’s great to make use of it at the 4th speed for at least ten minutes because, in just ten minutes at the highest speed, Winix can do a lot. After ten minutes on the turbo mode, you can turn it to the auto mode or on a little lower silent speed.

Operating Charges:

Winix 5500-2 air purifier is a big air purifier that has 70W power. It uses more energy than a few smaller air purifiers available on the market, but still, it’s energy-star certified. At 1st speed, it makes use of just 6.4W; on the standby mode, just 1.2W.

The highest operating charge on Winix 5500-2 air purifiers is the filter replacement because the new filter is a little costly. Therefore, I suggest following all the advice for prolonging the filter lifespan and efficiency. If we do the math on the energy use and say that the device will work on the 3rd speed for thirty days, Winix will charge you just 1.2 dollars. But if we carry out the same on the 4th speed, the bill will be five dollars. Although it’s not a high price, there’s a major difference between the 3rd and 4th speeds. The following table is where you can check the exact power usage.

Warranty And Customer Service:

Winix is a dependable brand that offers adequate after-sales support and service. I had a lot of questions regarding the Winix devices, and because of that, I’ve contacted them several times. The 1st thing worth stating is that I received replies quite quickly and always got in-depth answers to every question.

I found the Facebook page as a simple way of contacting them, and lately, it’s incorporated chat support on the website. I got the pre-filter damaged, and as there was no place to purchase it separately, I contacted the brand to check what to do. They offered to send me the replacement pre-filter right away, and that too, free of charge. The Winix 5500-2 air purifier has a two-year warranty. What is more, the Winix does not have the service, so if you ask them for the breakdown repair, they’ll send you the replacement device in place of repairing it.

Advantages And Disadvantages:

For revising, here are the pros and cons of the Winix 5500-2 air purifier:

Advantages:

• Low cost
• Perfect for allergies
• Durable and robust
• Modern design
• Remote control
• AHAM, Energy Star, and CARB certified
• Washable AOC carbon filter
• Washable pre-filter
• Very quiet in the sleep mode
• Air quality level indicator
• Very effective in 360 sq. ft. space
• A lot of advanced choices

Disadvantages:

• The smart sensor detects smells only
• Costly replacement filters
• In the user manual, there’s no precise number on how much ozone is emitted.

Conclusion:

The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is one of the best. It is a pretty big unit with many integrated features. Although it is intended for spaces up to 360 square feet, it functions perfectly in small but also in spaces bigger than intended. Enriched with a lot of speed choices, it’ll permit everybody to locate the one that suits them best, but you ought to remember that the Winix is the most competent at high speed.

What really makes this brand stand out is its 4-stage filtration system, which involves the innovative PlasmaWave technology choice. All things considered, with the amazing performances, Winix 5500-2 air purifier is the absolute recommendation for purchasing, and I assure you that you will be very satisfied with this device.