While I never really thought about the idea of “clean” air in the home five years ago, since the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, air quality in our house has been on my radar in a big way. In the past few years, the smoke from forest fires has been another concern. We’ve also had a self-inflicted home air quality issue to worry about since last year in the form of a series of home renovations. Nothing like contractors sanding drywall compound to raise the concern level about what’s floating around–even if they have “sealed off” rooms under construction with duct tape and plastic sheeting. And did I mention that we have two big dogs and two cats running around as well?
Air purifiers are a must-have, so far as I’m concerned. This extends to the kids’ rooms. Clean air means less chance of catching something, better sleep and reduced odds that dust is going to damage electronics. However, they don’t need a massive unit that’s meant to provide 1,000 ft² of coverage. The Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max seemed perfect for this situation.
Customization Options
The included Particle + Carbon filter is able to handle day-to-day air purification duties. Blueair says its HEPASilent™ dual filtration technology removes 99.97% of airborne pollutants, including dust, pollen, smoke, pet dander and viruses.
In our daughter’s room, the Blue Pure 511i Max noticeably reduced dust and pet hair. The thin film of drywall dust that we’ve been dealing with ceased making an appearance. The carbon filtration also appears to have kept odors down–useful for someone who sneaks snacks up to her room and doesn’t always remember to take the dishes down for a few days.
If you want to more aggressively target a specific air quality issue, there are two optional filters available: AllergenBlock and SmokeBlock, which are self-explanatory and offer even more protection against specific issues. You can even buy different colors of the cloth pre-filter that covers the base of the unit if you want to switch things up.
Compact and Stylish With Quiet Operation
The Blue Pure 511i Max proved to be well suited to a small bedroom. It is compact and stylish, easily fitting on top of a dresser and looking good with its cloth-covered cylinder form factor. That cloth doesn’t just add warmth and Scandinavian flair to the air purifier’s look, it is also functional, acting as a pre-filter. This is where large particles like floating cat hair are captured–just vacuum it off or throw it in the washing machine.
This air purifier is designed to be unobtrusive and my daughter reports it did not interfere with sleep. In night mode, the small LED power indicator dims and the low fan setting registers just 19 dB. That’s considerably quieter than whispering or rustling leaves.
Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max Key Specs:
- 360 degree air intake, top air output
- Recommended room size 237 ft²
- 4.8 air changes per hour (ACH)
- Automatically detects and quickly removes pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, dust, and odors
- HEPASilent™ dual filtration technology removes 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.1 microns
- noise levels 19 dB on low fan setting to max 42dB on high fan setting
- Filter lasts up to one year of use
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Integrated air sensors
- Touchscreen controls or mobile app control
- 14.5 x 9.3 x 9.3 inches, weighs 4.2lb
- Particle + Carbon filter standard with replacements at $29.99, speciality filters available (AllergenBlock $44.99 and SmokeBlock $38.99)
- Removable cloth pre-filter, additional colors available at $8.99
Available Mobile App Operation
While you can do everything needed by tapping the “buttons” on this air purifier’s capacitative top, you can also connect it to Wi-Fi and make use of mobile app control.
Reasonable Price: For Air Purifier and Operation
One downside of some air purifiers is that their filters can be expensive. For one of the units I own, they go for $200 a pop. The Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max is designed to be economical to run. The purifier itself retails for $139.99 while the standard Particle + Carbon replacement filter is priced at $29.99 and should last for up to one year of use. A filter subscription service is available with discounted pricing.
Blueair Has Many Air Purifier Options
If the Blue Pure 511i Max is too large for your space, Blueair has an even more compact option in the Blue Pure 511 or the Mini Max (sold in pairs). If you need something larger there are options including the Classic Pro CP7i, an XL air purifier that offers professional-grade air purification.
Disclosure: Blueair provided a Blue Pure 511i Max for evaluation purposes but had no input into this article.
