Do air purifiers with heating capabilities really work?

Throughout your research for an air purifier to install in your home, you may have come across certain air purification products offering 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 capabilities (heating/cooling/humidification). This type of product may have even piqued your interest: it certainly does seem convenient to have one device that does it all. However, are these devices effective? Do they still protect your health? Read on to learn more.

Why are Dyson hot air purifiers an anomaly in the air purification market?

Dyson is the big kid on the block when it comes to the air purification market in Europe and the UK. With one of the most recognisable names in home electronics and other technological gadgets, their tech products are undoubtedly popular. You may also have noticed that Dyson is one of the only brands to offer this type of multipurpose product that combines temperature regulation and air purification. Some of their most popular 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 products include:

• Dyson Purifier Cool (regular and formaldehyde models)
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool (regular and formaldehyde models)
• Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool (regular and formaldehyde models)

You may be wondering: why don’t other companies offer multipurpose devices? Isn’t it a benefit to invest in a multipurpose device? The reasons for this are quite clear upon digging deeper into their technical specifications and consumer analyses.

Dyson heating capabilities

As one of the only air purifiers with heating and cooling functions on the market, Dyson air purifiers should be able to perform both functions seamlessly. Unfortunately, this is not the case. According to a CHOICE home appliance expert in regards to Dyson air purifier model performance, ‘We have seen mixed results, so how well this product will perform for you depends on what you will be using it for’¹.

Let’s start with the heating function. In a study conducted by the CHOICE team on two of Dyson’s Hot+Cool air purifiers, it was observed that the heating function serves as a benefit: it worked quite well. They did find, however, that the heating function of the more expensive model (the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07 at a price point of £599 or 699€) performed less well than its less expensive counterpart (Dyson Pure Hot+Cool HP00 at £449.99 or 399€). A summary of the heating function of Dyson is as follows:

• The heating function does not work if the required temperature is lower than the current room temperature: if left running under these conditions, it will stop ventilating and automatically switches to standby
• The device feels hot when you are standing in immediate proximity
• The small moon icon does not switch off if left in heating mode at night

Dyson cooling functions

Again, according to CHOICE’s analysis, Dyson’s cooling air purifiers performed ‘adequately’ when comparing their airflow and the ability to create breeze with other pedestal fan models. However, they claim that if your main goal is to purchase a cooling fan, you can do so by purchasing a device that is a tenth of the price¹. The purpose of investing in a Dyson multipurpose air purifier for your home is to take advantage of the added features, especially the air purification technologies.

Dyson air purification functions

Problematically, despite consumers’ willingness to shell out such a substantial amount of money for a device that offers both temperature regulation and removes air pollutant particles, multiple consumer review websites reported being quite unimpressed by Dyson 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 air purifiers’ purification performance. 

CHOICE states that all three cooling units that were tested performed poorly, not cleaning the air as quickly and/or effectively as other air purifiers tested. CHOICE further mentions that using the typical Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) test made it difficult to compare Dyson air purifiers with other brands because Dyson does not adhere to the same standards as other air purification devices in the industry. It does not use, nor provide to consumers, the Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR) of its air purifiers. This is a standard used in the industry to help consumers compare air purification performance at removing air pollutant particles between different brands. This is a critique we have often mentioned regarding Dyson devices: since they use their signature ‘POLAR’ test rather than CADR, it is extremely difficult for consumers to compare their air purification capacities with other models.

Review in Detail, another consumer analysis site, also claimed poor air purification performance amongst Dyson air purifier models. Dyson’s Pure Hot+Cool HP04 device only achieved a result of 45.8 litres per minute of clean air, proving it to be inefficient at combatting poor indoor air quality³.

Consumer Analysis additionally critiqued Dyson air purifiers’ low purified airflow. In terms of processed air per minute, they were reported to do ‘quite poorly’. Despite ejecting a high volume of air, most of it remains unpurified. With a CFM measuring around 100 for most Dyson air purifiers, this means that these devices should not be used in rooms larger than 9 to 14 m2 (100 to 150 square feet). Furthermore, in order for Dyson air purifiers to be effective, they need to be left running at maximum speed. For the Dyson Hot+Cool Formaldehyde model, this means high energy usage, noise, and effort performed by the device’s motor, leading to rapid wear and tear and a shorter lifespan of the device as a whole².

Additionally, when it came to combatting odours, after having burnt sticks of incense (smoke from which is also a fine particle pollutant) in a room of 40m2 (430 square feet), the Dyson Hot+Cool was left running for 75 minutes at maximum speed. It took a whopping 35 minutes to remove the smell from the room. This type of inefficiency poses health dangers.

Again, as we have mentioned before, Dyson devices offer horizontal discharge. This means that any furnishings present in the room will prevent the purified air from properly circulating throughout the room.

Dyson air purifiers with heating function are noisy

Reviews directly on the Dyson website show that consumers are frustrated by the amount of noise emitted by Dyson’s 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 devices (Dyson’s Hot+Cool air purifiers, Dyson Pure Cool TP04, Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, and the Dyson Pure Cool TP00). Multiple customers report high-pitched hissing, whistling, and screeching noises coming from the device, likely a result of poor design and placing the blades too close to their enclosure. The noise level exists regardless of whether the device is running at speed 3 or at speed 10. There are also complaints that the Night mode in Dyson air purifiers is not designed for homes with light sleepers due to the noise coming from the devices. Customers state that these problems existed in previous generations of Dyson air purifier models but that the problems still have not been resolved⁴. 

Dyson air purifiers are dangerous

One thing that is particularly troubling about Dyson’s Hot+Cool air purifiers is its lack of safety measures. According to CHOICE, it failed the towel drape safety tests. This involves draping a moist towel over the heater to see if a safety switch is activated. It took over eight minutes to turn off under these conditions. This amount of time even surprised the testers who typically see better safety standards for Dyson products¹.

Difficulty purchasing replacement filters for Dyson air purifiers with heating function

More customer reviews claim an ongoing struggle to purchase filter replacements for their Dyson Hot+Cool, Pure Cool TP04, Purifier Cool TP07, and Pure Cool TP00 air purifiers. Dyson has been unable to keep an adequate stock of both replacement filters and parts, making continued use of their expensive air purifiers impossible (and even dangerous since continued use of a device with a saturated filter can actually release air pollutant particles back into your space).

Additional complaints

Customers are also frustrated by Dyson’s customer service and lack of user manuals with their devices (and one that is poorly written if it was included). Several customers also complained about a chemical/toxic aroma coming from their Pure Cool TP04, Purifier Cool TP07, and Pure Cool TP00 devices.

Summary

Overall, we are a bit surprised to see Dyson charging so much for products that underperform in most aspects of their 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 capabilities, especially when it comes to air purification. Both customers and consumer analysis firms agree in stating that they expected better from a leading manufacturer in the electronics sector. Due to the poor price-to-quality ratio, it would be worthwhile for consumers to invest in devices that are designed to perform their individual functions, especially if the main goal of purchasing an air purifier is to purify the air.

Why are Philips 3-in-1 fan and heater air purifiers an anomaly in the air purification market?

Another big player on the air purifier market is Philips, a massive multinational conglomerate similar to Dyson. This is another company offering 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 air purifier/heating/cooling devices. Their 3-in-1 device offers a three-layer filtration system including pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter . These technologies are the fundamental technologies in air purification devices and are, as a result, included in most air cleaners. As a 3-in-1 device, these air purifiers run into some of the same problems that Dyson products do, but find a brief summary below.

Philips air purifiers with heating functions are not energy efficient

One of the standout qualities of a Philips ‘all-in-one’ air purifier is that they consume massive amounts of energy. The Philips 8000 series max heater power consumption exceeds 2200 W. Philips discusses how it has an ‘energy-efficient design’ that uses only 40 W to purify the air; however, you will find in the fine print at the bottom of the page that this is ‘not applicable to heating mode: in heating mode, it uses 2200 W to warm up the air’⁵.

Philips air purifiers use horizontal discharge

This is another issue we have seen with both Philips and Dyson products alike. Instead of discharging purified air vertically to ensure optimal air mixing and avoidance of obstacles, the Philips 8000 3-in-1 and 7000 3-in-1 series both discharge purified air horizontally. Since rooms are not empty, air that is expulsed horizontally will be obstructed by any home or office furnishings present in your indoor space.

Eoleaf is steadfast in its commitment to devices offering only vertical discharge of air in order to optimise removal of indoor air pollutant particles and mixing of purified air.

Philips air purifiers have a disappointing CADR

The Philips 8000 3-in-1 series is comparable with Eoleaf’s AEROPRO 100 air purifier. The Philips 8000 filters the air in rooms up to 70 m2 whereas our AEROPRO 100 filters the air in rooms up to 80 m2. However, air filtration capacity is a very different story.

The Philips 8000 series has a measly CADR of 270 m3/h, nearly half of Eoleaf’s AEROPRO 100 which offers a CADR of 570 m3/h. CADR is used to measure air purification performance, so the higher the CADR, the better. It considers both air flow and filter efficiency.

These numbers speak for themselves: they show that multipurpose devices simply cannot offer the same level of air filtration.

Philips air purifiers with heating functions have connectivity issues

One more common issue mentioned in Philips air purifiers’ reviews mention problems with its connectivity. The remote control only seems to work a small percentage of the time, and connectivity of the device is lost after 6 or 7 days. The device does not show you it is not paired anymore and only does so by the device’s lack of response when you want to change settings using your smartphone. This requires the user to turn off the device, unpair it, and pair it once again.

Eoleaf does not recommend air purifiers with a heating function

Heating function

2-in-1 and 3-in-1 air purifiers with heating and cooling functions contain flashy features that do not add real value. We are strong believers that for improved comfort in your indoor spaces like your home and/or office, it is best to invest in an air conditioning or heating unit. For improved indoor air quality, it is best to invest in a high-quality air purifier.

The microfibres in HEPA filters are sensitive to drastic changes in temperature and humidity. By purchasing an air purifier with heating and/or cooling functions that will damage the fibres in HEPA filters, it will not only create more wear and tear and burn through filters faster (causing excessive energy consumption), but it will negatively impact air purification quality. We never recommend storing an air purifier in a bathroom, laundry room, or other humid environment because a filter that is damp poorly retains air pollutant particles. 

Eoleaf: air purification specialists

When your health is at risk, we do not believe in taking chances on expensive devices that do not live up to their promises. This is why, here at Eoleaf, we specialise in improved air quality through air purification, guaranteeing devices that will deliver an exceptional purified air and keep you and your loved ones safe from the dangers of indoor air pollution.

Here are some of the characteristics of our devices:

• Medical-grade air filtration: the benefit of our 8 different filtration and purification technologies is that it guarantees high-quality air purification that removes fine particles (including those caused by cigarette smoke and automobile traffic), chemical pollution (like VOCs), and biological pollution (including allergens like pollen, dust and dust mites, and germs)
• Optimised air circulation: our devices offer 360° air intake and vertical discharge, encouraging the best possible mixing of purified air into your space
• Superior power: our air purifiers models of all sizes boast superior CADR: 420 m3/hr for the AEROPRO 40, 570 m3/hr for the AEROPRO 100, and 670m3/hr for the AEROPRO 150
• Easy to use: Eoleaf air purifiers come equipped with wheels or handles (depending upon the model) for easy movement around effortlessly and a filter change indicator to simplify maintenance
• Quiet operation: all of our air purifiers blend right into the background, even at their highest speed level, so you never need to worry about hissing or screeching
• Our devices also come with Night mode which keeps your air purifier running at its lowest speed level with all indicator lights switched off, ensuring you a good night’s sleep
• Real-time data: our devices come with a Bluetooth terminal display and continuously monitor your air quality in real-time and adjust the fan speed accordingly (in Automatic mode).
• Smart & Connected: Eoleaf air purifiers are compatible with the Tuya smartphone app so you can control it remotely from your smartphone via Wi-Fi, create smart scheduling, and automate its functions.

Frequently asked questions

Do air purifiers help with colds?

Air purifiers do not serve as a way to help colds go away faster. Rather, they serve as a way to remove airborne viruses from the air, like colds or the flu. Removing airborne viruses keeps viruses that cause colds from gaining access to your respiratory system through inhalation.

Do air purifiers with heating capabilities eliminate airborne particles effectively?

This is a resounding ‘no’. As seen in this article, 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 devices, particularly those offered by Dyson and Philips, offer a CADR that is approximately half that offered by Eoleaf devices of a comparable size. This means that their devices are half as effective when it comes to air flow and air filtration capacity.

Are air purifiers with heating as effective in removing specific pollutant particles like smoke or pollen compared to standalone air purifiers?

This is also a resounding ‘no’. Since 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 devices, particularly those offered by Dyson and Philips, offer a CADR that is approximately half that offered by Eoleaf devices of a comparable size, their devices are half as effective when it comes to airflow and air filtration capacity. This refers to all types of pollutants, including fine particles caused by smoke, pollen, traffic, etc.

Can air purifiers with heating capabilities replace traditional heating systems in a home?

No. Not only do these devices consume significant amounts of electricity, they are only designed to heat small rooms or areas within immediate proximity.

How noisy are air purifiers with heating capabilities?

This depends upon the air purifier model. Many users critique Dyson 2-in-1 models, for example, for the amount of noise that they make when the heating function is turned on. Dyson models often pivot, another source of noise bemoaned by customers.

Resources

¹ Engel, P. (2023, June 6). Dyson heaters, fans and Air Purifiers: Are They Worth the money?. CHOICE. https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/cooling/fans/articles/should-you-buy-a-dyson-fan 

² Dyson Air Purifiers. Consumer Analysis. (2022). https://www.consumeranalysis.com/guides/air-purifiers/dyson-air-purifiers/ 

³ Westwood, S. (2023, December 11). Dyson pure HP04 - review and test. Review in Detail. https://reviewindetail.com/dyson-pure-hp04-hot-cool-air-purifier/ 

⁴ Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool FormaldehydeTM Reviews. Dyson. (n.d.). https://www.dyson.com/air-treatment/air-purifier-heaters/purifier-hot-cool-formaldehyde-hp09/reviews?productCode=497044-01 

⁵ Air Purifier, fan and heater. Philips. (2023, April 11). https://www.philips.co.uk/c-e/ho/air-purifier-and-air-humidifier/air-purifier-fan-and-heater.html#_hepa