Whirlpool Air Purifier
Whirlpool is another major company that has started making air purifier brands of its own. They've only got a few, all variations of the "Whispure" model. The difference between the various numbers roughly corresponds to the number of square feet that they can cover (the models are the Whispure 150, 250, 350, 450, and 510). It's not exact, but it's pretty close. The lower end models are appropriate for roughly a bathroom or small office. When you get up to the top (510 square feet) it will cover about half of a regular apartment. The variance allows you to pick one that is the closest to your needs, but it can be a little disappointing if you've got a larger house - you would need three or four of the largest model to cover most multiple-room houses fully. However, many of the brands that claim to cover a full 2,000 square foot house don't do a very good job of it on the outer rooms, and it's harder to ensure adequate coverage with a single air purifier - you could easily buy three of the Whirlpool 510's for the same price as a 2,000 square foot one (the most expensive Whirlpool air purifier runs $300, while the cheaper ones are $180 or so).
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Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier - Review
One other thing to keep in mind - the Whirlpool air purifiers also differ in features as you go up the numbering scale. The highest (510) uses HEPA filtration, has a sleep mode so you can avoid noise more easily, and has a change filter indicator. The lower numbered models don't have all these features, and that might make a difference in your decision. The Whirlpool 250 is easily available online but some of the others aren't as easy to find.
General Comments:
The Good:
Indicator lights on the more expensive models will tell you exactly when you need to change filters. There are two filters - a carbon filter and a HEPA filter, and you will have to change the carbon filter every three months and the HEPA one once a year. People seem to notice tangible results with it and are generally happy with the effectiveness of getting rid of air particles. It's also energy efficient, so if you want to run it 24/7 you can do so without having a huge increase in your electric bill.
The Bad:
The cord is a little short, so you may need to get an extension cord if your plugs are far away from where you want to put it. It also takes up a lot of space, especially with the larger-numbered models, which can be about 2 feet high and a foot wide/long. This means it will be harder to hide it out of the way if you're going to put it in a room where company will be coming. The size can also be a big deal if you live in a small apartment. It's pretty loud on high, but on low you shouldn't have a noise problem.
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