Winix PlasmaWave 5300 True HEPA Air Purifier $107 (Less w/ Energy Rebate) at Amazon

I've done a ton of research on purifiers and can't seem to be able to lock in on one specific brand/model.

Looking at the winix wac6300, can anyone verify if this 5300 is "better" than the 6300? I don't tend to find much on the 6300 series.

Thanks!

I just purchased this one last week:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D8Y1YNC/

It works well for my 500 sq ft room.

I also tried a "used - like new" one of these but it was dirty and didn't even turn on so it went back:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HVTC5G/

(Can't answer your question, sorry. Just wanted to pass along the other suggestion.)

Thank you!! I'm going to look into AeraMax as I've never heard of them (or just don't recognize the name) but the replacement filters and stats look good on it. Going in about a 500 sq ft basement to reduce cat odors from litter box and just basement in general.

Thank you!! I'm going to look into AeraMax as I've never heard of them (or just don't recognize the name) but the replacement filters and stats look good on it. Going in about a 500 sq ft basement to reduce cat odors from litter box and just basement in general.

I've done a ton of research on purifiers and can't seem to be able to lock in on one specific brand/model.

Looking at the winix wac6300, can anyone verify if this 5300 is "better" than the 6300? I don't tend to find much on the 6300 series.

Thanks!

For Air purification, check out the Coway Mighty. I did a lot of research and that unit seems to be the best value available, considering effectiveness and annual ownership costs after initial purchase.

https://smile.amazon.com/Coway-AP...coway&th=1


A lot of the units recommended for dealing with smells are very pricey ($500+) but the biggest difference is they have a large area carbon filter. To do the same on the cheap, just buy a carbon canister filter and inline fan and run it in your basement. That setup will cost less than $100 and will provide plenty of carbon to absorb any basement smells.

winix makes a dizzying assortment of purifiers, many of which use same/similar filters.

here's a quick run down

5300 (and 5300-2)

carbon sheet pre + hepa
no remote

5300-2

new style
adds washable mesh pre filter to 5300

5500

adds remote to 5300

5500-2

new style
replaces carbon sheet pre with washable carbon honeycomb

6300 is basically 5500 with some gimmicky antimicrobial coating one of the filters

Now it gets worse.
Costco C535

• Identical style to 5300-2/5500-2 except white
  Same filter set as 5300-2
  Has a remote

Costco C555

• adds anti microbial coating to the hepa filter for 5th layer of filtration to C535

All of the above use the same size 21 HEPA Filter and same sized carbon sheet pre filters.
All the "old" gen/boxy filters have same CFM, CADR and coverage ratings
All the new gen (-2s and costco) have same CFM, CADR and coverage ratings.
the new/old ones may even share it as well, but I haven't looked at it closely recently

Confused yet? Let's add some more options.
P 150/300/450
These are more modern/sleek looking

• P150 uses smaller size 17 filters.
  P300 uses size 21 as all of the ones above
  P450 uses size 25

P300/P450 both have pre filter with carbon sheet and hepa

Not enough options?

U 300/450 are essentially identical to the P300/450 except use different sets of filters (same sizes, just add a layer of antimicrobial to one of the filters).

There are small differences between generations and lines. Timers, remotes, etc, but generally speaking they are all roughly the same.

If you need a remote, get 5500, 5500-2 or 6300

If you need a timer, get 5300-2, 5500-2 or one of the costco ones

If you need a remote and a timer go 5500-2 or one of the costco ones.

If you need to cover a large area with a single unit, watch for the P450 to go sub $200 or the U450 to go sub $250. These are rated around 450 sq ft while the 5300/5500 are at 350ish sq ft

Personally I would go Costco C535 (when on sale about a month ago, it was down to $120 with 2 years of hepa/carbon filters making the unit roughly $80) as it has timer and a remote. reg price is $150 with 2 hepas and 8 carbon filters (2 years worth, the non costco ones only come with one). Hepa filters run 20-30 and cut to fit carbon sheets can be had for <$10 or you can buy 1 hepa + 4 pre cut carbon sheets for ~ $40

I've spent way more time than I wish I had looking into these filters

(In case you were wondering I have a couple boxy 5500s, a 5500-2, 3 c535s and a U450 in use in my house. I wanted to stay to one filter size, but the U450 got cheap enough where I was willing to get a different size)

The AeraMax is actually made by Fellowes... you may recognize them from office products that they make.

winix makes a dizzying assortment of purifiers, many of which use same/similar filters.

here's a quick run down

5300 (and 5300-2)

carbon sheet pre + hepa
no remote

5300-2

new style
adds washable mesh pre filter to 5300

5500

adds remote to 5300

5500-2

new style
replaces carbon sheet pre with washable carbon honeycomb

6300 is basically 5500 with some gimmicky antimicrobial coating one of the filters

Now it gets worse.
Costco C535

Identical style to 5300-2/5500-2 except white
Same filter set as 5300-2
Has a remote

Costco C555

adds anti microbial coating to the hepa filter for 5th layer of filtration to C535

All of the above use the same size 21 HEPA Filter and same sized carbon sheet pre filters.
All the "old" gen/boxy filters have same CFM, CADR and coverage ratings
All the new gen (-2s and costco) have same CFM, CADR and coverage ratings.
the new/old ones may even share it as well, but I haven't looked at it closely recently

Confused yet? Let's add some more options.
P 150/300/450
These are more modern/sleek looking

P150 uses smaller size 17 filters.
P300 uses size 21 as all of the ones above
P450 uses size 25


P300/P450 both have pre filter with carbon sheet and hepa

Not enough options?

U 300/450 are essentially identical to the P300/450 except use different sets of filters (same sizes, just add a layer of antimicrobial to one of the filters).

There are small differences between generations and lines. Timers, remotes, etc, but generally speaking they are all roughly the same.

If you need a remote, get 5500, 5500-2 or 6300

If you need a timer, get 5300-2, 5500-2 or one of the costco ones

If you need a remote and a timer go 5500-2 or one of the costco ones.

If you need to cover a large area with a single unit, watch for the P450 to go sub $200 or the U450 to go sub $250. These are rated around 450 sq ft while the 5300/5500 are at 350ish sq ft

Personally I would go Costco C535 (when on sale about a month ago, it was down to $120 with 2 years of hepa/carbon filters making the unit roughly $80) as it has timer and a remote. reg price is $150 with 2 hepas and 8 carbon filters (2 years worth, the non costco ones only come with one). Hepa filters run 20-30 and cut to fit carbon sheets can be had for <$10 or you can buy 1 hepa + 4 pre cut carbon sheets for ~ $40

I've spent way more time than I wish I had looking into these filters

(In case you were wondering I have a couple boxy 5500s, a 5500-2, 3 c535s and a U450 in use in my house. I wanted to stay to one filter size, but the U450 got cheap enough where I was willing to get a different size)

nice summary. I bought three of that costco one and agree it is great.

But I thought the 5500 and higher end costco had a washable hepa. No?

Wow - as someone that had been struggling for days to find information on the different winix purifiers (particularly the Costco ones) I want to give you a huge thanks! I ended up purchasing the Costco one while the sale was going on and now I am happy I did.

What was the Costco price?

You're right the older 5500 has washable hepa. My washable ones didn't fare too well after washing, so I pretty much just swapped to regular ones

The costco 555 has that orangy hepa thing
https://winixamerica.com/product/...-i-116131/

The only thing washable there is the honeycombed carbon (same as 5500-2)

I know they tried to make their filters options make sense, but it seems they just made it worse with all the options.

I mean you can go from expensive fitler train (washable honey comb + orange hepa) to el cheapo carbon sheet + fellowes hepa without issue