Does Molekule reduce dust? Molekule Air is easy to control using its touch-screen display. For added convenience, you can connect it to your WiFi and control it remotely using the iPhone or Android app. Molekule Air uses Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) nanotechnology to destroy viruses, VOCs, allergens, bacteria & mold. Recommended PECO-Filter replacement for average use: every 6 months. Recommended Pre-Filter replacement for average use: every 3 months. What is Molekule Air Purifier price? Get details in Molekule Air Purifier reviews,
In the box
- Molekule Air, Air Purifier,
- 1 Pre-Filter (recommended 3 month life),
- 1 PECO Filter (recommended 6 month life)
Pros and cons – Molekule Air Purifier
Pros: The PECO filter breaks down VOCs, mold spores and other allergens into harmless, common substances.
The unit is easy to maintain. Molekule suggests replacing the main filter every 6 months and the pre-filter every 3 months. To make it easy, Molekule sells a pack with one main and two pre-filters.
Cons: Cost is a concern for some. The current price is $799. Plus, the current cost of a replacement filter set is $65. If you change the filters per Molekule’s recommendation, you’ll new two sets per year for a total of $130. That’s higher than you’ll pay for a year’s worth of pre-filters and main HEPA filters for most True HEPA air purifiers.
Specifications
| Max. Coverage Area: | 600 sq ft |
| Filters: | PECO-Filter + Pre-filter |
| Filter Lifespan: | 6 Months + 3 Months (Pre-filter) |
| Power Output: | 20 – 80 Watts |
| Noise Levels: | 41-65 dB |
| Dimensions: | 23″ x 8.25″(Height x Width) |
| Weight: | 18 lbs |
What is Molekule Air Purifier price & Annual costs
The Molekule Air costs $800, with an annual cost of $130 for filter replacements, plus an additional $50 a year for energy use, based on our calculations. (The model is not Energy Star certified, unlike the majority of air purifiers we test.)
Who should consider a Molekule air purifier?
This advanced air cleaner makes the most sense for:
- Those with severe allergens or asthma
- Anyone with COPD
- Households where smoking in the house is allowed
- Carpeted homes where infants and elderly live
- Those who are enthusiastic about leading-edge technology and can afford the high cost of the machine and filter replacements
Does Molekule reduce dust?
A typical mesh filter—HEPA, for instance—captures only airborne particles. PECO and PCO, however, take it one step further and also target gases. It does this by coating filters in a catalyst (PCO usually uses titanium dioxide) that reacts with UV light to oxidize gaseous pollutants and breaks them down into harmless molecules.
Does it have UV light inside to kill virus?
No germicidal UV-C, so the light itself isn’t what destroys the viruses. Our devices utilize low-energy UV-A light to start a series of chemical reactions on the surface of our PECO-Filter that generate hydroxyl radicals. Those hydroxyl radicals are what destroy the organic airborne pollutants (viruses included) through oxidation.
Compare Molekule Air Purifier vs Molekule Air Purifier mini+
| Air Pro | Air | Air Mini+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room size | 1000 sq. ft. | 600 sq. ft. | 250 sq. ft. |
| Filters | 1 Filter: Integrated PECO & Pre-filter | 2 Filters: 1 PECO & 1 Pre-filter | 1 Filter: Integrated PECO & Pre-filter |
| Fan speeds | 2 Auto Protect – 6 Manual speeds | 3 | Auto Protect – 5 Manual speeds |
| Controls | Digital touch display & App | Digital touch display & App | Touch display & App |
| Body material | Anodized aluminum | Anodized aluminum | Medical grade polycarbonate |
| Handle material | Vegan leather | Premium leather | Vegan leather |
Molekule Air Purifier reviews
Build
Made from machined aluminum, Molekule Air is beautifully designed to fit seamlessly into your home. With its natural leather handle, Molekule Air can be easily carried and placed anywhere in the home.
Design
Most air purifiers are shaped like a box because HEPA filters are box-like. Molekule air purifiers, on the other hand, have an aesthetic tubular shape because PECO filters can take tubular shape. That also allows for 360-degree air intake.
Buttons
Also coming back from the previous model is the powerful bottom-to-top air flow system concept, with a 360° air intake at the bottom, and an air outlet on top. It has a similar feeling and using just like the Air model, and I must admit, the one-touch control panel is simple and convenient than most other complex panels.
Molekule Air Purifier Room coverage at price point
Molekule has not released the CADR data of the Molekule Air Mini. They are recommended for use in rooms up to 600 square feet. As such, this air purifier is best for home offices, studio apartments, and even your kid’s bedroom.
Thanks to its intuitive design and easy cable management, you can place it on your nightstand or office desk. It has a natural felt handle that allows you to carry the air purifier from room to room with ease.
Filters
Molekule uses two filters at once: A carbon Pre-Filter and a PECO-Filter. The Pre-Filter captures larger particles like dust and pet hair, while carbon catches and slows down VOCs on their way to the PECO-Filter. The PECO-Filter is coated with our proprietary catalyst that breaks down VOCs, bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants at a molecular level when activated by UV-A light.
Filter Replacement
To keep your device running as efficiently as possible, the Pre-Filter should be replaced every three months, and the PECO-Filter should be replaced every six months. The extra Pre-Filter that comes with your device will get you to the six-month mark. You can also track your filter life in the Molekule app—just reset the filter status in the app after you change out a filter and it’ll count down from there.
Molekule Air Purifier Power consumption & price
Molekule power usage also needs to be considered. Conventional air purifiers are powered by up to 100W, but they only create airflow. Molekule has to create airflow + power the UV lights for PECO filtration.
That UV light should increase energy usage; however, Molekule Air uses only 80W even at the highest speed. It’s apparent that all, apart from Air Pro, Molekule air purifiers were design to conserve energy and be eco-friendly as possible.
Noise Levels
Looking at the design of Molekule Air, it does look like a quiet device. However, the reality is that Molekule units aren’t the most silent overall. Air Mini and Air Mini+ produce 39 dB at the lowest speed setting and 62 dB at the highest speed setting. Molekule Air, the arguably best Molekule air purifier, can produce 65 dB at the highest speed. These are not ideal levels.
How to use Molekule Air Purifier?
- Download the Molekule app to your phone and set it up using the same email used to purchase your Molekule device.
- Unwrap the power cord and insert into the bottom of your device. Plug the cord into an outlet and follow the on-screen steps on top of the Molekule. To pair the device to your phone, make sure you’re within 15 feet of the unit.
- Select your preferences and mode on the device’s touch screen or from your app and you’re done. Molekule will perform an Initial Clean Up that could take up to 50 minutes.
Auto
This mode takes your inputs, like room size, to identify the ideal airflow for your device. The fan speed will be set at a consistent level to maintain optimal air quality.
Boost
In Boost Mode, the device runs at its maximum speed. Use this mode when you’re in need of a strong clean, like after dusting and cleaning the house.
Silent
You Molekule will be whisper quiet in Silent Mode. Even as the speed of air flowing through the device is reduced, it still cleans the air thoroughly.
Dark Mode
Dark Mode turns off the Molekule light—great for light-sensitive people. Since the PECO-Filter needs that light to break down pollutants, we recommend only using Dark Mode when necessary. Once Dark Mode is turned off and the light comes back on, captured pollutants will then be eliminated.
App
What you also like about the Molekule Air Mini is that it’s a smart compatible air purifier. You can track and control your air purifier using your smartphone. The native app, available in both App Store and Google Play, will allow you to control the air purifier remotely.
Besides controlling the air purifier remotely, the app allows you to check the filter status. As you already know, the Molekule Air Mini has a PECO filter. While it’s excellent at trapping and destroying air pollutants, you need to change it every 6 months.
Molekule Air Purifier performance reviews
We put the Molekule Air through our standard battery of air purifier tests, and it almost flunked: We put it into a sealed chamber and injected particles as small as 0.1 micron and up to 1 micron into the room—a range that includes dust mite allergens, cat allergens, smog, smoke, and atmospheric dust. (For reference, human hair has a diameter of 100 microns). A particle counter measured the change in air-particle concentration as the machine ran for 15 minutes. As usual, we tested at the highest speed and again at a lower speed.
The Molekule Air gets a Fair rating for smoke and dust removal at high speed and a Poor—the lowest score possible—at low speed. It is the third-lowest-scoring air purifier of the 48 we tested. The manufacturer says the Molekule Air is sized for rooms up to 600 square feet, but its performance in our tests ranks it among compact models that are designed for small rooms. Based on our lab’s calculated rate at which it can process the air, the Molekule Air wouldn’t be able to handle any room larger than 100 square feet.
Molekule Air Purifier same price alternative
Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto
The Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto is similar in capabilities to the Coway AP-1512HH and the two Winix models. It reduced smoke levels by 99.9% in 30 minutes on high, and by 94.2% on medium. Its Auto function, introduced to the Blue Pure lineup in late 2020, monitors your room’s air quality and adjusts the fan speed accordingly.
And it has other features we like, including very quiet performance, terrific energy efficiency, and a control panel that automatically dims after you adjust the settings.
It’s also particularly attractive, with a tweedlike, washable cover that’s available in several muted colors (it arrives in gray; the other colors can be purchased separately). Two minor knocks against it: The air-quality indicator lamp, a bright blue LED, shuts off only when it’s on its slowest setting, and the filters are recommended to be replaced every six months, pushing annual costs to $80, versus about $50 for the Coway and the Winix models.
Coway AP-1512HH Mighty – Effective, efficient, and inexpensive
The Mighty’s compact form, quiet operation, and ability to shut off its display lights make it especially well suited to bedrooms. In long-term use, we’ve repeatedly confirmed it works like new even with filters used continuously for a year or longer.
And when we tested it during ongoing smoke conditions in a vast Los Angeles conference room of nearly 10,000 cubic feet—more than twice as large as the Coway Mighty’s specs would seemingly allow—it cut particulate pollution by almost 70% in an hour. It’s a great value, at an up-front price often lower than $200 (and about $470 over five years, factoring in electricity and replacement filters).
Within 30 minutes, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty reduced heavy smoke pollution in a 135-square-foot, 1,215-cubic-foot New York office by as much as 99.6%. In past tests, it performed equally well in a 200-square-foot, 1,600-cubic-foot New York City bedroom.
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