Alen BreatheSmart Classic Air Purifier Review in 2023

Last updated on January 1st, 2023

Alen BreatheSmart Classic is one of the oldest air purifiers made by Alen. It has high CADR rating and filters pollutants using True HEPA H13 filter. On the other side it’s a bit pricey, features older-generation ionizer, not energy efficient compared to the newer versions and doesn’t have a remote or WiFi function.

Does Alen BreatheSmart Classic worth the money? This and many other questions I answer in this review.

Check price at official store

Specifications

Space Coverage	1100 square feet (2 ACH)
Particles Removal	99.99% down to 0.1 micron
Filtration Technology	3-stage: Pre-Filter True HEPA Filter Ionizer
Filter Life	3 – 6 months for Pre-Filter (pack of 4) 1 year for True HEPA H13 Filter (check price)
CADR	300 (Smoke / Pollen / Dust)
Speed Settings/Airflow	150 CFM 185 CFM 225 CFM 290 CFM
Auto Mode
Sleep Mode
Smart Sensor
Noise Level	42 – 56 dB
Power	1.6 – 105 Watt (How much Electricity will it use?)
Weight	21 pounds
Dimensions (L x W x H)	10″ x 17.5″ x 26.7″
Warranty	Lifetime warranty (requires subscription on official website)

My Alen BreatheSmart Classic Review

What’s in the Box

• BreatheSmart Classic air purifying unit
• True HEPA H3 filter
• User manual

Now dive in further to learn more about the Alen BreatheSmart Classic in this review.

Alen BreatheSmart Classic Air Purifier marketed itself with certain features which interest me. Being someone with allergies and pet dander, I was also looking for a cleaner. Since I was already aware of the cleaner via consumer reports and on certain commercial websites, the product has a rating of 4.7 out of 5; so in a heartbeat, I got BreatheSmart Classic home, and I can proudly say that ‘I was right.’ The purifier changed the air around my surrounding. Now I breathe healthy air, and my home looks and feels clean. It’s been a while since I stopped using medications for my allergies, and I don’t regret making this purchase.

I also found out some fascinating factors about the cleaner. The unit is ozone-free, which means the unit manufactures negative ions that collect particles and makes it simpler for confining molecules inside the HEPA filter. There is 0 PPM when the unit is detached and below 0.050 PPM when engaged with an optional ionizer. Also, the unit requires 1.6-105 watts of power consumption which is relatively standard for a practical yet powerful purifier and power supply of 120 AV, 60HZ. If you use the cleaner for 8 hours every day, you may spend only $43 every year.

What amazed me is that the BreatheSmart air purifier provides a lifetime warranty and assures that the products are free from any defects. If found any, the company will issue for replacement. Moving on, I also discovered that the cleaner consists of adaptable HEPA type filter which comes in various options to address particular needs such as-

• HEPA-Pure, which is the standard HEPA filter traps 99% of pollutants and gets rid of dust and ordinary allergens
• HEPA-FreshPlus incorporates an activated carbon filter, which helps to remove household odors and proves helpful to people with sensitivity towards VOCs
• HEPA-Silver can be a little more pricey than the rest, but if you want to be free from mold spores or bacteria, this filter will help with its anti-microbial silver-ion threads.
• HEPA-OdorCell is known as the ultimate HEPA filter due to its distinctive Alen’s Molecular Conversion Powder, which gets rid of cigarette odors and heavy airborne odors

These filters are no ordinary ones as they fall under H13 HEPA filters and remove every small particle. The filters can last for 12-15 months despite using them daily. These filters range from $79 to $119, and you can replace them once a year. It’s been nearly a year since I made my purchase, and it looks like my filter is still doing great.

All About Alen BreatheSmart Classic

You should be aware of specific requirements and safety measurements for installing a BreatheSmart Classic into your homes. To know more, keep reading.

Placement Requirements

• Utilize a measured surface of around 6″ to maintain space between sources like heaters.
• The air purifier is meant only for indoor operation
• Avoid blocking any air vent entrance of the purifier
• Do not place the cleaner on soft surfaces nor insert finger or objects into the vents

These are the basic requirements you should remember while placing the purifier. Now let’s look at some safety measurements.

Safety Requirements

• Never connect the unit to any damaged electrical socket
• Place the filter correctly before starting the unit
• Make sure the air purifier is off before disconnecting
• Keep the cleaner away from heat sources and water
• Do not use the cleanser on a window, adapter, or an extension cord
• Always unplug the cleaner before replacing the filter or servicing
• Never exceed the ranking of the electric outlet to avoid unwanted accidents
• Change the filter as recommended and avoid inserting or pulling out of plugs with wet hands
• Do not repair the unit independently and seek professional help
• Do not drop, spray inflammable sprays, place dense items, climb or sit on the unit
• Attach the cleaner to the proper socket type and never run it without a filter

Now that we are conscious of safety let’s go to the next step, which will guide us on how to use the cleaner.

How to operate Alen BreatheSmart Classic?

Here are few innovative yet straightforward steps on operating the purifier.

• Insert the air purifier into a proper electric outlet
• Press the power button to run the unit
• Once the unit starts, the lights will be on. To switch off the unit’s light, press the power button. If you wish to turn off the unit, press the power button again after the lights have turned off
• You must be aware of the air quality sensor that changes color and is near the power button. Blue light indicates a low amount of air particles, yellow hints average amount of particles, and red signifies a notable quantity of particles
• If you wish to operate the ozone-safe ionizer, press ION, which will allow the unit to withdraw unwanted particles. You can press ION again to deactivate
• The purifier consists of a filter life indicator with three lights- green, yellow, and red. The green light illuminates till the filter life, while yellow light ignites till the filter requires replacement. The red light illuminates when the time arrives for filter replacement
• Once you change the filter, keep holding the filter life button for five seconds for the red light to shift to green
• Since you can customize the purifier, select TIMER to let the unit run for the desired number of hours
• To obtain the fan speed, you desire, press SPEED. Usually, people use speeds 2-3 to maintain speed stability for cleaning and noise. In case the air is dirty, choose speed T (Turbo).
• To operate the automatic mode, press AUTO. The auto mode uses Smart Sensor technology to regulate the unit’s speed which depends on the number of particles in the air

Alen BreatheSmart Classic Features

With detailed information on how to operate the cleaner, let us now understand the features which make it a trusted product.

• The ionizer in the unit allows better filtration
• HEPA filter helps capture pollutants
• The unit comes with four fan speed options along with a timer which will enable customization for controlling the air circulation
• The filter change indicator helps in scheduling filter replacement
• The cleaner features an automatic mode for ace performance
• The unit consists of a touch button
• It comes with auto-off safety features in case the unit’s front cover gets removed

How to maintain Alen BreatheSmart Classic

After learning in-depth about the purifier, it’s time we know the particulars on caring for and maintaining the product for the best outcome.

Switch the lights on/off

You need to know that the unit won’t turn off despite turning the lights off by pressing the power button. It will help if you press the power button twice to turn the cleaner off. Such knowledge will help you avoid unnecessary accidents and save electricity.

Replace filter

It is necessary to know that the filters used in BreatheSmart Classic purifiers are not for cleaning, washing, or reusing. With time, the filters tend to become overburdened with airborne particles, which decreases their performance. Hence, it is highly advisable to regularly practice replacing filters to expand the longevity and production of the air purifier.

Why replace the filter?

Firstly, the core reason to thoroughly replace filters is to avoid excessive pressure on the air purifier. Also, the purpose of getting the cleaner is to upgrade your indoor air quality, and by changing filters, you can maintain air quality according to your requirement. Often, dirty filters lead to compromising with the measure of clean air the purifier can deliver.

Steps to replace the filter

1. While installing the filter, keep the unit unplugged
2. You can differentiate between the front and back of the filter as the front consist of foam secured with velcro
3. Pull out the front cover and lift it apart from the unit
4. Remove the pre-used filter with the help of pull strings and insert it in a bag      to avoid re-entering dust
5. You can now place a new filter inside the air cleaner while the pull strings clad outside
6. Place the top of the front cover followed by the lower cover

Reboot filter life indicator

Once you finish putting back the new filter, press on the filter life button of the unit to restore it to green

Cleaning the Smart Sensor

The Smart Sensor helps expose air particles, but sometimes, massive dust accumulation on the lens can affect the sensor’s functionalities. Hence the unit can become dysfunctional, and that’s why you need to clean the Smart Sensor. You can begin by turning off the purifier and wetting the ends of a cotton swab, and wiping the lens. Make sure to dry the lens too. It would be best if you made a habit of cleaning the Smart Sensor lends every time you change the filter for outstanding achievement.

Suitable Room Size for Alen BreatheSmart Classic

Alen BreatheSmart Classic can clean room 1100 square feet in 30 minutes. Some of you may think that this is quite an achievement, but in reality it is not. 2 air changes per hour is minimum you should expect from an air purifier and if you have any breathing conditions, you should look for at least 4.

You can figure out your room size using our ACH calculator (there are also a table with recommended ACH for different rooms) and down below you may take a look at the table featuring different room sizes and how effective Alen BreatheSmart Classic performs.

Room size (8 ft. ceiling)	How long it takes to clean room	ACH
370 sq. ft.	10 minutes	6
450 sq. ft.	12 minutes	5
560 sq. ft.	15 minutes	4
750 sq. ft.	20 minutes	3
1100 sq. ft.	30 minutes	2

Alen BreatheSmart Classic Maintenance Costs

Replacement Filters: $79, $89, $99 or $119 per year, depending on which type of True HEPA H13 filter you want to use with the BreatheSmart 45i (Pure, Silver, FreshPlus or OdorCell). 10% off if subscribed. Plus $19.99 for the pack of 4 pre-filters.

Electricity Costs: ~$10 per month running 24 hours per day on maximum speed. Use our Energy Consumption Calculator to estimate electricity usage and costs of the Alen BreatheSmart Classic air purifier based on your local electricity rates.

Total Yearly Costs: $220 – $260.

Pros & Cons

Check price at official store

Alen BreatheSmart Classic Alternatives

Why should you have an alternative? It isn’t because the product is unreliable, but sometimes the product and your requirements might not match. Hence, here are few high-end product alternatives for Alen BreatheSmart Classic that either has the same price or just powerful and better overall.

Nuwave OxyPure

Alen BreatheSmart 75i

IQAir HealthPro Plus

FAQs

Does the Alen BreatheSmart Classic air purifier produce ozone?

Alen BreatheSmart Classic does produce ozone if ionizer is on (less than 0.050 PPM). It is possible to turn it off.

Can I place the purifier sideways?

You cannot place the unit sideways as the product’s design is for erecting on a base. If you put it on the side, there is a risk of obstructing the airflow, adding involuntary stress, and reducing the unit’s lifespan.

Till what period can I use the filters?

Everything depends on the pace-setting of the cleaner. If you continuously run the unit or the air quality is poor, the replacement of the filter will arise within every 6 to 12 months. But if your cleaner is not operated regularly or does not run at the maximum speed, the filter can last for 12 to 18 months. Alen also provides customized True HEPA filters, which function according to your requirements and can last 6 to 15 months.

I have a room that is larger than the mentioned coverage area of the purifier. Will it work if I install it?

How air purifiers function depends on the number of air exchanges that happen every hour or when air replacement within the room happens. A purifier that meets the standard of six exchanges/hr is known to be excellent, and yes, despite having a space that exceeds the coverage area of the purifier, it can still function and clean your room. Although, the rate of air exchanges may decrease, meaning you might not enjoy all the benefits. Therefore, always try to get a purifier which meets your requirement.

Does the Alen purifier come with a carbon filter or only HEPA?

The Alen BreatheSmart purifier exclusively presents a HEPA-Pure filter, but they also provide separate customized filters which contain activated carbons for getting rid of chemicals and household odors. These filters are HEPA-Silver (best for chemical odors) and HEPA-FreshPlus (best for household odors).

Is Alen Breathesmart Classic noisy?

Yes, if we compare the unit to the other air purifiers in the same price range.

Can the cleaner remove oak tree pollen?

Yes. If the pollen passes through the electrostatic plates, the HEPA filter will trap it.

What kind of stage air filtration does this purifier have?

The Alen Breathesmart Classis purifier has three-stage filtration system.

Does the Alen BreatheSmart Classic purifier come with a pre-filter?

Yes, all Alen BreatheSmart purifier comes with a pre-filter, which helps manage massive particles like hair and dust.

Conclusion: Is Alen BreatheSmart Classic Worth Buying?

In 2023 Alen BreatheSmart Classic is probably not so good anymore. Yes, it clean air, but it is noisy even on the lowest speed, pricey when it comes to filters and generally speaking do not matches in quality with other air purifiers: some (like Levoit Core 600S) are cheaper and have additional functions, others are just better in everything (Tracs comes to mind).

But if you don’t care about the noise and maintenance that much, BreatheSmart Classic could work for you for years.