Can Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms remove pet odors?

Live your best with the best-in-class Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms throughout your home. With personalizable look and customizable filters, BreatheSmart FLEX quietly and efficiently removes harmful particles. Alen is a strong name in the American air purifier industry, with the first and certain lifetime warranty. They want to deliver the best customer services to compare with other American rivals like Rabbit Air, Honeywell and Levoit, and keep the strong foothold on the air purifier market. However, their air purifiers all demand the mid-range and high-range level, because buying an Alen’s product is a sign of lifetime commitment. Discover all details on Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms review.

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Key features – Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms

Today we have Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms Review, an air purifier which is the entry-level to mid-range budget. Find below its key features –

• Four interchangeable True HEPA filters allow you to customize your specific filtration needs. The True HEPA-Pure filter comes standard with the FLEX, all other filters are optional and are sold separately:
  • True HEPA-Pure (FL40) filter: two-layer filter. Removes dust, pet dander, mold and pollen from the air.
  • True HEPA-Fresh (FL40-carbon): three-layer filter. Removes dust, light smoke, mold and pollen from the air, and provides light odor control.
  • True HEPA-Silver (FL40-Silver-Carbon): three-layer filter. Purifies and freshens the air and protects against the growth of bacteria and microbes. It also captures VOCs and removes dust, pet dander, mold and pollen from the air.
  • True HEPA-OdorCell (FL40-MP): three-layer filter purifiers the air and destroys heavy odors. Removes dust, pet dander, mold and pollen from the air.
• Washable pre-filter layer extends the life of the filters
• Filtration rate: removes 99% of particles larger than 0.3 microns in size
• Cleans rooms up to 700 sq. ft. (2 air changes per hour)
• Simple-to-use, intuitive touch-button controls that operate with a quick, light touch
• Delivered airflow: Speed 1: 53 CFM, Speed 2: 135 CFM, Speed 3: 147 CFM and Turbo: 187 CFM
• 4 fan speed controls: speeds 1-3 and turbo; lights display the selected speed
• Noise levels:
  • Speed 1: 39 dB (whisper)
  • Speed 2: 42 dB (light rainfall)
  • Speed 3: 49 dB (heavy rainfall)
  • Turbo: 55 dB (box fan, medium)
• Filter-life indicator:
  • Green: illuminates for most of the filter’s life—doesn’t need replacing
  • Yellow: illuminates to indicate that the filter should be replaced soon
  • Red: illuminates when it is time to replace the filter (6-9 month lifespan)
• Timer settings: 2-, 4- or 12-hour timer to control air circulation
• Power/sleep mode
• Auto-off feature when the front cover is removed
• Handle for easy carrying and maneuvering
• Weight: 15 lbs.
• Quick-start guide and owner’s manual included
• Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty

Compare Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms (review)

Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms review

Design

The Alen BreatheSmart FLEX is an air purifier with quite a lot of metal on its body, which is different from the previous Alen Paralda and Alen T500. You’ll see this sort of construction in many mid-range air purifiers, like Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0, GermGuardian AC9200WCA and Honeywell HFD360B. That’s a good reason to cost more in mid-range level.

Probably the most significant change is forming the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX as a full-size air purifier instead of an usual tower one. It will help the air purifier to hold inside a much broader fan, and therefore increase the cleaning rate of the device. Alen is obviously proud of the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX’s design, as it retained it for the Alen BreatheSmart 45i, while sticking closely to the look for the Alen BreatheSmart FIT50 and Alen BreatheSmart as well.

Despite of being a full-size air purifier, the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX has a height of 25 inches, which is even taller than the current Alen Paralda. That means a bigger size air filter will be applied to capture more allergens for you. Moreover, the air flow system concept has changed, to a common bottom-to-top. With a big air intake grill behind the panel, the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX draws in polluted air, purifies it and releases back through the top air vent. A typical air flow concept which are used widely in price range of $300 to $400, from Blueair Classic 205 to Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 and GermGuardian AC9200WCA.

On top of this air purifier, we will have a brand new control panel, with 5 basic function buttons. A logo of Alen BreatheSmart FLEX is also found here, which is the only way to be sure that you purchase the right air purifier.

Personalized Style and Decor

Most air purifiers come in either black, white or silver.  This air purifier come across the occasional colored one but nothing quite as impressive as the choice offered with the Alen BreatheSmart range!

Customers can currently choose from 14 different colors and textures with the BreatheSmart FLEX:

• Brushed Bronze
• Brushed Stainless
• Electric Blue
• Espresso
• Gold Champagne
• Graphite
• Maple
• Oak
• Petal Pink
• Rosewood
• Safari Black
• Seafoam Green
• Weathered Gray
• White

Dimension and weight of BreatheSmart FLEX?

Dimension-wise, the FLEX measures in at 25” x 15” x 8.5” and weighs 15lbs, compared to 16lbs for the FIT50 version and 21lbs for the standard model. It also comes with a built-in handle so it can easily be moved to another location.  But it doesn’t come with castors so please bear that in mind if you think you’d have trouble lifting it. So, we now know that the FLEX is more streamlined and lightweight than its 2 predecessors but how does it shape up in relation to the size of space it can cover?  

4 HEPA Filters

As the decisive criteria for the performance of one air purifier, by default we look at the quantity and the quality of its air filters, and what the air filter types are using. There is only a 2-stage air cleaning system from Alen Paralda, without the classic ionizer in Alen Paralda and Alen T500.

1. HEPA-Pure – The standard HEPA filter of Alen BreatheSmart FLEX, which is able to capture 99% of as small as 0.3 microns pollutant particles such as dust, dust mites and pollen.
2. HEPA-Fresh – The next level HEPA filter will improve the first HEPA-Pure, with an addition of Activated Carbon filter, to deal with the household odors like cooking smells and light smoke. This air filter is necessary for people who are sensitive to VOCs.
3. HEPA-Silver – For a little bit more money, you can upgrade to the HEPA-Silver filter with anti-microbial Silver-Ion threads that prevents the growth of mold spores and bacteria.
4. HEPA-OdorCell – The ultimate level HEPA filter of Alen BreatheSmart FLEX, with the unique Alen’s Molecular Conversion Powder, that can destroy the odors on a molecular level.

There are enough negative reviews about the ionizer of Alen air purifiers making a crackling of noise, and people are more and more to stay away from any ion generators because it can emit ozone and irritate internal asthma and other breathing issues. As a response, Alen removes the ionic feature from the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX. It is mostly for marketing purpose, because the actual ozone emission from other Alen’s air purifiers is still within the common standard level.

Also, the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX welcomes back the pre-filter which is necessary to capture the large objects of pollutants. This preliminary filter will reduce the amount of pollutants that HEPA filter needs to capture, and therefore prolong its lifetime. The pre-filter is washable and permanent to use.

There are lots of work in the next-gen HEPA filter of Alen. Of course, it is the certified True HEPA filter, because Alen has finally listened to the community. At least that is the thing Alen said. To know if it is the truth or not, at Breathe Quality, we still put everything in a test.

Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier can cover 700 square feet

Alen state that the BreatheSmart FLEX can be used in rooms of up to 700 square feet – so, average sized living rooms, bedrooms and offices. That’s in comparison to 900 sq. ft. for the FIT50 and 1,100 sq. ft. for the standard model. According to some customers who have already bought the FLEX, the 700 square footage actually relates to when the unit is being operated at the highest of its 4 fan speeds. Apparently the user manual states that when operated on fan speed 1 it will cover 200 sq. ft, 300 sq. ft. on fan speed 2, 400 sq. ft. on fan speed 3, and then 700 sq. ft. on fan speed 4 (Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier for large rooms review).

Is the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier for Allergies and Dust Quiet to Operate?

Operating noise is an important factor for many people when it comes to choosing the best air purifier.

Let’s take a look at how loud the Alen BreatheSmart Flex is on each of its different fan settings:

• 39 dB on speed 1 (equivalent to a whisper)
• 42 dB on speed 2 (equivalent to light rainfall)
• 49 dB on speed 3 (equivalent to heavy rainfall)
• 55 dB on speed 4 (equivalent to a box fan)

In terms of how it compares to the other 2 models in the range, the FIT 50 is a little quieter than the FLEX, and the standard model a little noisier.

The general opinion among customers who’ve bought the FLEX seems to be that it’s a quiet air purifier to operate. One customer online remarked that ‘on the first 2 settings you won’t hear it at all…on the top setting it’s still pretty quiet’. Some people like to put their purifier on the highest setting for a while when they first return home, before switching to a lower/quieter speed at bedtime. In terms of power consumption, the BreatheSmart FLEX uses 36 watts on the highest speed setting.

Airflow, speed, and CADR

With a smaller overall size, Alen BreatheSmart FLEX HEPA air purifier has a reduced purifying coverage that by no means is poor as it stands at 700 sq. ft. Ideal for most room sizes including bedroom, kitchen, basement and typical household living hall. Airflow delivery rate also drops when compare to BreatheSmart Classic especially on lower speed; expect speed 1 at 53 cfm, speed 2 at 135 cfm, speed 3 at 147 cfm and turbo at 187 cfm. Another trade-off is the lack of Auto mode within the 4 selectable speed.

Although not tested in the typical channel, Alen BreatheSmart FLEX HEPA air purifier dust, pollen and smoke CADR is equally impressive at an estimated 245 cfm overall. Regardless which or what types of air contaminants is presence, large particles e.g. dust to the smaller allergens like pollen/ mold would be completely capture by the air purifier. Smoke and odors related particles would fall into the air purifier checklist if the right type of filter is used i.e. HEPA-Fresh filter (optional addon purchase).

Performance

This time, I use the Honeywell AirGenius 6, which is suitable for the test because it doesn’t have a True HEPA filter. In addition, I chose the Vornado PCO300, Bissell air320, TruSens Z-3000 and Medify MA-40 to see if the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX is truly capable of dealing with large room or not. As the result, the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX got a score of 99.9% for trapping any particles down to 0.3 microns, which is the same as the Vornado PCO375DC.

However, such performance is still below the Medify MA-40, and through numerous tests, I believe the new Airthereal AGH550 is also better.

Power consumption

One of our most FAQs is “Do air purifiers use a lot of energy?” An air purifier is meant to run for a long time to be efficient, that’s why many air purifier brands consider the energy-saving standard, mostly in the rate of Energy Star, is one important selling point.

I’ve recorded the power consumption of the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX as only 56 watts on the highest speed. Compare to the 80 watts from Blueair Classic 205 and 61 watts from the Blue Pure 121, you had better run this Alen BreatheSmart FLEX to save the energy.

Is it worth buying?

For using a Alen BreatheSmart FLEX 8 hours per day, it would cost you about $20 per year. At the time of writing, the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier is retailing in the region of $399 for a white unit with a HEPA Pure filter. A unit with a colored panel is available from $438, and as discussed earlier you can also upgrade to one of the other HEPA filters for a little more money should you wish. The average cost of the original BreatheSmart is currently $599 and the FIT50 is $499, so the FLEX is definitely the most affordable of the 3 models in this range.

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