Blueair 501 and 601 Air Purifiers

Blueair 501 and 601 Air Purifiers Product Reviews

BlueAir 501 Air Purifier:

I could not wait to try out an air purifier from Blueair. The Blueair 501 completely lived up to my expectations. The first two fan speeds are virtually inaudible. The third fan speed, where I usually leave it while I sleep, is very quiet also – just a soothing hum in the background.
Being able to breathe fresh clean air while I sleep makes such a difference in the quality of my rest! It is also nice to run the air purifier on high while I am cleaning. That way I know that all the dust and particles I am stirring up into the air are actually getting cleaned, and not just moved around the room.

Things I like about the Blueair 501:

It is attractive. The neutral off-white blends in seamlessly with my walls, and the sleek contemporary curves of the design give it a little more aesthetic appeal than most air purifiers. Actually, this design won Blueair one of the most prestigious design awards in Scandinavia – the Excellent Swedish Design award. I like that Blueair designs their products to look nice as well as perform to high standards.

It is quiet. The first two fan settings are so quiet I can barely hear them. The highest fan setting is a little noisy, but it works fine to run it when I am gone, outside of the room, or doing a loud activity like cleaning or playing music. The knob on the simply styled operation panel makes it easy to turn it from speed to speed, so it’s no problem to switch it from higher to lower as you leave and enter the room, just like switching on the light.

It is economical. On the lowest fan speed, the Blueair 501 consumes about 15 power watts, less than a light bulb. Even on the highest speed it is energy efficient, only consuming about 95 watts. This was one of the major factors in my decision to choose the Blueair 501. I can run the air purifier all the time without worrying about the electric bill.

I really, really, really like having clean air! The Blueair 501 captures 99.97% of the tiniest 0.1 micron particles, including pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander. It is so nice to know that I coming home at night to a haven from allergens and pollutants, where I can relax and breathe clean air.


The bright blue light on the side lets me know if the air purifier is running, which is good since it’s so quiet I can’t always tell. The blue light might be a bit bright at night, but simply turning that side towards the wall fixes the problem. It casts a blue glow on the wall that doesn’t bother me at all when I’m trying to sleep. However, for someone who prefers total darkness when they sleep, it might be a problem.

The filters are really simple to change. Just open the lid and there they are; lift out the old filters and drop the new ones in. No tools required.

Things I don’t like about the Blueair 501:

It is a little heavy. It covers a maximum room size of about 800 square feet, so 35 lbs is a reasonable weight. However, I wish it had handles on the side like the Blueair 402, to make maneuvering it a little easier. On the bright side, it does have casters, so it rolls very easily, and is quite easy to position once you have it in your house.

In summary, I was very happy with the Blueair 501. It is attractive and quiet, and I like having it in my bedroom. I have felt more rested in the mornings and my allergies have been much better inside the house. I would definitely recommend this air purifier to anyone who is looking for an economical and quiet unit that they can incorporate into their living area.

BlueAir 601 Air Purifier

The BlueAir 601 is nearly identical to the 501 with a few exceptions. Both units have identical dimensions, weights and features. Aesthetically there are only a few minor differences, though the color, shape and overall design are virtually indistinguishable.

What separates these two units is the square footage that each can cover. The 601 will cover approximately 100 more sq. ft. than the 501, at the same air exchange rate per hour (6). A slightly different fan design allows for the greater coverage and slightly improved results in the CADR test. In CADR testing the 501 ranges from 377-388 for dust, tobacco smoke and pollen while the 601 exceeds that with results ranging from 380 to more than 450. The 601 has a three speed dial control, whereas the 501 has four. Lastly, the BlueAir 601 uses slightly more power, but not so much that you would see a change in the electric bill of more than pocket change.

Overall, the BlueAir 601 offers the same great features as the 501 with slightly better filtration and a larger capacity.

 

Blueair 501 and 601 Air Purifiers Detailed Specifications

Blueair 501 and 601 Air Purifiers Additional Resources

Blueair 501 and 601 Air Purifiers Warranty Information

501 and 601 Air Purifiers Availability:

501 and 601 Air Purifiers Replacement Filters