Read testers’ feedback on the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

This thread is for the 70 Mumsnetters who have been testing the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier (RRP £199.99).

Here’s what Fellowes have to say: “Studies indicate that indoor air can be up to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Combined with the fact that many people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, it starts to become clear why the quality of indoor air is so important. Environment Protection Agency
The Fellowes AeraMax™ Air Purifiers use a combination of the most effective filtration and cleaning methods as part of a 4-stage filtration process to remove 99.97% of airborne pollutants and particles down to 0.3 microns in size. This level of performance combined with a feature set and interface designed for any indoor environment, makes it the perfect clean air solution.”

Mumsnet bloggers have also reviewed the Fellowes AeraMax DX55. You can view their posts at emmaand3, hodgepodgedays, themadhouseofcatsandbabies, chammyirl and tantrumstosmiles.

Testers, please give your feedback on the Air Purifier by posting answers to the below questions as well as leaving any other comments you have, and filling in a short survey when this is emailed to you:

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?
• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

All those who complete the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher.

Thanks,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Hi, I've been lucky enough to trial one of these purifiers, well I say I have, I got it for DS1 who seems to be severely allergic to everything in the house, and spends his life sniffing and snuffling.

Since it arrived on Thursday it was unpacked and placed in his bedroom;

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

He hasn't noticed any difference yet, but is hopeful.

Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Again he expected to wake up on Friday and not be sniffing but hasn't seemed to have made any difference to him at all. Will report back if we see any difference.

I have already posted on the original thread, but will post again.

Q Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

A I haven't noticed any difference in the feel of the air in any of the rooms, but I know it HAS made a difference. Given time, it may feel different and especially in the summer months, I'm sure it will.

Q Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

A It has made a difference to my catarrh - tmi alert, DH says I used to hawk like an old man every morning and constantly clear my throat, nasty brown gunky stuff coughed up from the back of my nose and throat, (my nose won't blow) but I have no catarrh, none, my nose feels very clear, it's great.

I moved it to another room last night and so slept without it, the symptoms have come back mildly, but unwilling to risk a second night without it, as so much more pleasant to not wake up with my nose blocked and throat all thick as it was this morning.

I would love one in all the main rooms of the house.

The only cons:

The bright blue lights and indeed all the light colours are intrusive in a darkened room, but I'm sure that could be modified in the future. Some children may find it very distracting if they are used to a blacked out room.

Thank you for letting me test it, it made me realise how much we actually do miss the old one we had.

Tester here:

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes definitely, I'm not wheezy at bedtime and the kids say it helped them too. Also it's felt and smelled better in the room after being on.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

yes, I usually feel a bit rubbish when I've been around the animals too much but it's really helped and I haven't suffered or coughed since its been here. Dh seems to be breathing more easily so he thinks it's helping with his asthma. I'd really like to see if it helps me with pollen in the summer too.

Additional comments:

Even in the rooms where it was blue it seemed to improve the air quality and it definitely helped in dd's room where she had mould and it smelled musty and old.
Even got rid of the smell when dd had a night time accident.

I'd definitely recommend it.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Definitely. It's used in dd's room as she's the one that suffers. It feel a like you're walking into crisp morning air! When I disturb around it the red light goes on to show there's dust in the air and impurities.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Not yet, but she hasn't come up in red blotches since it's been on so I think it's helping with her hives somewhat. She gets coughs and colds at the drop of a hat, I'm hopeful it will help these!

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

The air definitely feels and smells fresher. I air the bedrooms each morning anyway. The purifier is in ds's room but even in the evening when the window has been closed for several hours it is noticeably fresher when I walk in there.

It is very satisfying to see the colour change on the purifier when polish, deodorant etc has been sprayed (or children have trumped!) and it is impressive how sensitive it is and gives you confidence that it is working well.

Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

DS (6) has perennial rhinitis. He has been taking a steroid nasal spray for over a year. The GP tells me that it is fine but I am uncomfortable with him taking it. I stopped his nasal spray the day the purifier arrived as I wanted to see if it helped him. We are three days in and he still doesn't have any symptoms. However, I suspect he is still feeling the benefit of the nasal spray. I will be able to tell if the purifier is working in a week or so.

I suffer from asthma. We had building work done before Christmas and a lot of dust was generated. I have been suffering with my chest since then but so far this week I haven't been wheezing and haven't had to use my inhaler. I need another purifier! I haven't yet had it in my bedroom overnight as DS has it. I wake up every morning with a stuffy nose so I'm keen to see if the purifier would improve that.

We jumped at the chance to test this, and it was a toss up whether 8 month old DD got it or DH. DD has wheezed just about all of her (admittedly short) life, and finds it bothersome, so she won over DH's asthma. The purifier went in her room as soon as it arrived.

It was very easy to set up and use, and I liked that I could chose the fan speed if I wanted to. A huge downside for me though, is there's no option to turn down the brightness. In a small room, it's very intrusive and the baby would often stare at it. I wouldn't like it that bright in my room. I've taken to covering the display in a piece of cardboard, which works.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

It definitely smells cleaner, though that could be the smell of a new appliance.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

I'm genuinely surprised to say that it has. I didn't expect to notice much, if any of a difference, but DD's wheeze is non-existant overnight. It does creep back in over the day (when she's not in the room with the purfier) but there is a noticable change in how well she sleep and the lack of noise from her. I did in fact go to check her quite a few times as I was worried she'd stopped breathing as we're so used to hearing the wheeze. Now all we need to do is figure out what's causing it...

Overall, I'm very pleased with it, but I really wish the display could be hugely dimmed for night time.

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes I do. Overall allergies in the house have decreased as have asthma symptoms. In addition it has freshened up my sons room, which belonging to a 14 year old boy, is not normally very fresh. I definitely feel that the air seems cleaner, and dust seems to shift quicker, for example after tending to the rabbits den, which is in our living room. Normally the air would feel "Dusty " for quite a while after a full clean, however with the purifier in the room, the dusty feeling passed really quickly.

The air overall definitely feels "lighter" when the unit has been on in a room for a while.

Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Symptoms have definitely decreased, and by quite a lot. My son and I have not experienced itchy eyes and sneezing since using this (when in a room with it on). This has really impressed me. My sons asthma has not caused a problem at all over the last few days, which is great. I am still having problems with my asthma, but to much lesser extent and the problems I do have are not being triggered by things in the house, so I think it is genuinely helping us. I think people who suffer from dust or pet allergies can really benefit from one of these.

Overall I have very pleased with the machine. I had hoped it would help, but I wasn't sure if it would really work. I have been pleasantly surprised and am looking into getting a second one, so we can have one running upstairs and downstairs.

The machine itself is very easy to use and set up. It does blow out pretty chilly air, but you can alter the angle at which the air comes out, so you can make sure it doesn't blow draft where you are sitting. The cold air coming out might be nice in the summer.

The unit itself is very quiet, which surprised me, I expected to have this white lump humming loudly in the corner, but it makes only a very faint noise most of the time., When a pollutant does enter the air and the fan kicks in at higher speeds, it does get louder, but not enough to really disturb us.

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

I haven't noticed any difference but my dh (who's out at work all day) says the air seems 'cleaner' when he first gets home now.

Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Ds (19 months) is noticeably less wheezy in the morning & after his nap.

I'm pleased that it seems to be helping ds & hope that it will continue to do so, particularly during the summer month.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

I think it definitely has, the smell in the utility room is definitely better and dd who has terrible wind is causing less of a problem. House seems to smell cleaner whe I come in but may just be my imagination

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

This has definitely helped dh breathing this ventolin use is definitely less in the evening and on the weekend he only used it in the morining (this from a man who uses it normally at least four times daily) . I think it will be a godsend in the summer with both hay fever and when pollen count upsets dh chest.

We have had a few days so will post again in a few days to check it's not just a coincidence

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes it has, we have noticed a difference in that the air feels very crisp and fresh.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

My husband hasn't been coughing as much as he usually does, it has been a godsend during some building work that has taken place in the house. My husband said he hasn't needed his inhaler since the second day we got this.

The only con is that the lights are very bright to have it on in the bedroom but perfect for the living room, upstairs landing and hall.

Also was lucky enough to test the air purifier and it has been a success.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

I'm not sure if I've noticed a change in the air walking into the room but there is a difference when I am going to sleep because I am able to breathe easier.

This morning I burned toast and switched it on at high the smoke and smell disappeared in seconds. So a difference there.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

We have both slept better. I am sleeping longer without waking up and last night I slept the whole night without waking up for the first time in months. I am no longer blocked up so am able to sleep without having to use tissues and nasal sprays.

Waking up feeling refreshed instead of trying to sleep being an ordeal.

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

We live near a busy road and I was heartened to see it wasn't as bad as I had thought, mainly blue, the whole house smells fresher.

Although interestingly my DS's bedroom, which doesn't face the road, seems to be the worst (red for two days which is also making us look at other sources of bad air).

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

The air feels cleaner, but it's a bit tricky to ascertain at this point as we've all got monstrous colds over the past few days.

I like the air purifier but find it is a bit noisy and I find the lights a bit bright for a bedroom. Also I wish it had a longer retractable cable.

I was lucky enough to be selected to test one of these.

Ours is just opposite the door to the room where we keep our guinea pigs and near our front door. The allergies we have are severe hay fever (DH) and general allergic rhinitis for me- mine isn't too bad but it is all year and I find pollution affects me badly. We live in a cul de sac off a busy road.

As for the questions-
- Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes, I think it has. The air certainly feels fresher around where the purifier is.
The smell of guinea pig, which used to creep out of the room, is completely gone apart from right next to the cage. I have left it on auto setting and most of the time the light is blue (i.e. The air is quite clean, so the machine is on the lowest level). Every now and then it goes up a notch, and when DH opened the door after having his engine running to defrost the car it went to red for a bit, so it was running at full power.

- Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

The worst allergies in our house are seasonal and we haven't entered hay fever season yet (obviously ), but I really feel this could make a big difference for DH. We normally have to have the windows shut in our room all summer to keep the pollen out, so it ends up with horrible stale air. During hay fever season I would move the air purifier upstairs. With the air purifier going I should be able to open windows in the day and just shut the windows at night.

I get general allergic rhinitis (and react to dust, pollution and pollen but only a little bit). My nose does seem a bit less stuffy recently so I think this has helped.

And I have to add that I'm pleasantly surprised at how quiet it is- when it's on blue (low pollution levels) you can't hear it at all really. The booklet says energy usage can be as low as 6W and I certainly haven't noticed an increase in our energy usage (we have a smart meter so can see daily electricity use).

And based on the comments above I'm hoping this can get rid of the smell of DH's gas when it's in our room!

We've had ours up and running for a few days now. We've struggled with where to put it and have moved it a couple of times, but it's currently in the living room. I'd ideally wanted it in our bedroom, but the lights are too bright.

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

I think it has yes, although the light is blue most of the time (I've only seen it turn amber once or twice a day...usually when one of the cats walks past it!)

I've definitely noticed a difference in my allergy symptoms. I usually have a permanently blocked nose and post nasal drip. The blocked nose is clear and the post nasal drip is still there but not as bad as it was. My chest is still wheezy at night (main reason I was hoping to be able to put it in the bedroom) but maybe this will also improve once a bit more time has passed.

We have had the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier up and running for a few days now.

When pollution is low (blue) it is very quiet and you forget it's there.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes, we have put it in DD2's room, which faces the road and has 2 external walls. I always feel that room gets a bit stuffy/smelly as we don't like to leave the windows open for too long and it can be a be musty/prone to damp/mould if we're not careful to keep it well ventilated. She's also recently got into spraying perfumes/deodorants which make me sneeze and give me a headache (gotta love teens). Her room has been fresher and I have been able to go in without getting annoyed, so it's a great start. She has also been spraying by the purifier deliberately to watch it change colour and thought it was hilarious when she managed to turn it amber by farting at it!

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Apart from me as mentioned above, not yet, but we've not experienced many triggers so far. I am looking forward to seeing what difference it makes with pollen when the weather gets warmer. Tomorrow we'll move it to the spare room before a big declutter- that should test it for dust!

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Yes. Particularly in the bedroom. The air smells fresher and seems cleaner. Will see as time goes on if this is the same in other rooms.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

I don't think we've been using it long enough to comment fairly on this. D.C. Is definitely coughing less at night though!

The blue lights are too bright for the bedroom at night. Have to turn the purifier around so the lights so not disturb sleep at night.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?

Definitely. The air smells cleaner as well, like proper fresh air. When I walk in, I smell a real freshness and its like an ionised smell.
It stays mostly blue, changing when someone has a bath, uses deodorant, is cooking.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

I am the one with allergies, and have definitely notice less of a post nasal drip, and stuffy nose, also have had no itchy eyes since receiving the purifier. Will know more in the spring when hayfever season kicks in, but the household triggers like house dust, and the cats, have seeminghly been kept at bay.
Am very impressed!!

I suffer from severe brittle asthma, and multiple allergies, and am really grateful I was chosen. We've been astounded at the sensitively of the purifier, and it's helped me feel a lot more comfortable in my home, knowing the air quality is excellent, and being monitored.

I've used it in the basement, which we use as the family room, and it's out my mind at rest that we really have tanked it properly and got rid of all the mould. In the kitchen, it's been great to monitor the air quality firvsllergens, as we keep our guinea pigs in there. And finally, in my bedroom I use it to ensure that I have optimum air quality whilst I sleep. I've definitely noticed that I am sleeping better, and I'm not waking up snuffly, or with a headache. I turned the unit round, so the lights were facing the wall, and that solved the bright lights issue. Another plus is it's very quiet, and also very light and portable, so moving it from room to room isn't an issue.

Overall, I've been really very impressed, I'm going to give my feedback to the Research Clinic at Glenfield Hospital when I have my next check up in February, and suggest they recommend it to other asthma and allergy sufferers.

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air? Yes, definitely. Yesterday someone came to our house who was a smoker. Although she didn't smoke in the house, the unit detected the smoke on her clothes, and turned amber. It was reassuring knowing it had boosted to clear the air for me.
• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier? Yes, I am much less stuffed up in the mornings whilst I have it on in my bedroom.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, I'm really hopeful it will carry on helping me.

Do you feel like the Fellowes Aeramax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air

Not noticeably at the moment , it's been moved about the house and always seems to stay on blue .although it has gone to Amber for a few minutes when people have sprayed deodorants / products . That said it produces a nice draught which will be great in the summer and I'm sure that's when it will be most useful as we generally have lots of fans going so any pollutants get blown about .

Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you have been using the Fellowes Aeramax air purifier

It has definitely helped my husbands catarrh as he is not having to clear his throat anywhere near as much and he says his nasal drip is improved . I can't say it's made a noticeable difference to my sinusitis yet but I live in hope .
I'm quiet impressed with how quiet it is although my daughter who has very acute hearing said that it emits a high pitched whine when on the blue setting which she finds irritating . The lights don't bother us at all overnight .
Thanks for letting us test this product , I'm sure it will continue to be an asset to our home .

I was really glad to be picked for this, I had an air purifier many years ago, but it was bulky and noisy and didn't get replaced for that reason.

Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?
I do think it's changed the quality of the air. The musty smell has gone from the lounge and I'm not so wheezy.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?

Sleep was the most noticed thing in our house. I'm very allergic and I have had it in my room, I usually wake many times a night coughing and at times use a nebuliser. Since having this on continually in my room I've slept through the night. I even took it to my parents as I didn't want to risk uninterrupted sleep again. I will be purchasing another if these for my sons room.

Q:Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air?
A: I think my room smells a little fresher. I do think the air quality has improved.
Q:Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier?
A: unfortunately mum son came down with a cold the day before the AeraMax arrived so difficult to tell. I think it will be a godsend when spring approaches.

It was very easy to set up, literally remove the bags and switch on. It's incredibly quiet, so it doesn't interfere with anything.

I've enjoyed testing this - like a science experiment! And much hilarity when the DC's wind made it go red! Anyway...

• Do you feel like using the Fellowes AeraMax DX55 Air Purifier has changed the quality of your air? In the kitchen definitely. It's incredibly effective at clearing cooking smells etc. The sensor works well and it adjusts quickly. In the bedrooms it's been more of a reassurance and despite being very quiet I wouldn't be able to sleep without on.

• Have you or your family members noticed any change in the symptoms of allergies or breathing since you’ve been using the Fellowes AeraMax air purifier? We all have spring/summer allergies and I think that's when this will come into its own. I have plans to do each bedroom prior to bedtime in peak allergy season.

It's surprisingly big and doesn't ever fully switch off but I think it's effective and I'll continue using it.

We have only been using it since Thursday so it seems a bit too early to expect too much yet. However, having said that, I have noticed that my 5 yo is less sneezy in the mornings. I have placed it in the main living room as that is where I felt that more family members will get the benefit of it. Overall it is very quiet but at times, especially when our cat walks in the room it goes into super charge mode whereby it is quite noisy and blows out a lot of cold air. I didn't have an instruction booklet with the machine so I'm not quite sure how I can change settings etc.
As we live in very polluted London (where the air quality is poor) I feel that the air purifier is a very welcome addition to our home and hopefully, in time, the whole family will begin to experience the benefits from running it.