In this Alen BreatheSmart Flex Review I will look in detail at the main features so that you can make an informed purchasing decision.
Although there are other Alen BreatheSmart models available for you to consider, this is a review of the Alen BreathSmart Flex, rather than the BreatheSmart Fit50 or Original BreatheSmart models.
So, what are the main features that come with the Alen BreatheSmart Flex?
Alen BreatheSmart Flex at a Glance
| Feature | BreatheSmart Flex |
|---|---|
| Filter Types | HEPA |
| Filter Options | 4 |
| Coverage Area (sq. ft.) | 700 |
| CADR Rating | Results Awaited |
| Air Flow Rate | 53 - 187 CFM |
| Whisper Max Technology | No |
| Smart Sensor Technology | No |
| Energy Rating | 36W on High Speed |
| Filter Life | up to 9 months |
| Filter Change Indicator | Run Time |
| Color Panel Options | 14 |
| Speed Settings | 4 (39 - 55 dB) |
| Dimensions | 25" x 15" x 8.5" 15 lbs |
| Warranty | Limited Life |
| Price | Check Latest Price |
Alen BreatheSmart Flex – Main Features
Here is an in-depth look at the most important features on the Alen BreathSmart Flex Air Purifier.
1. The HEPA Filter Options
The first thing to understand is that the Alen BreathSmart Flex comes with a HEPA filter. However, although each machine is supplied with a single HEPA filter, you actually have to choose from different options at the point of purchase.
Each of these HEPA filters is said to be capable of removing 99% of air particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Each of the 4 HEPA filters is slightly different and you should choose the best one according upon your specific needs.
The HEPA-Pure Filter is the standard option for everyday use and it comes with 3 layers of filter to remove dust, pet dander, mold spores and pollen from the home. This would probably be the first choice for those who are looking for a general all-purpose air purifier.
The HEPA-Silver Filter is similar to the HEPA-Pure in that it removes dust and mold spores. It is, however, also targeted more towards allergy sufferers and claims to deal with germ particles too.
The HEPA-Fresh Plus Filter is a more specialised option and is targeted towards removing smoke, VOCs and heavier chemicals.
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds – they are potentially harmful very small particles that HEPA filters often fail to deal with.
Finally, the HEPA-Odorcell Filter is designed more for those who are concerned about removing odors from the home, including pet and diaper smells.
If you change your mind later on, or if your air purification needs change over time, you can simply buy a replacement filter of a different type.
If you are unsure about which type of filter you require, I suggest that you stick with one of the standard options, like the HEPA-Pure or the HEPA Silver filters.
Whichever HEPA filter you choose, the machine also comes with a cleanable pre-filter that is designed to remove the larger particles so that the HEPA filter can concentrate on removing the more difficult smaller particles.
2. CADR Rating & Room Size
CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate.
An air purifier’s CADR Rating tells you how well that particular machine performed in scientific tests that are designed to assess their ability to remove smoke, pollen, and dust particles from a standardised room.
Unlike the older machines in the series, the Alen BreatheSmart Flex doesn’t yet have a formal CADR rating. I suspect that this is just a matter of time and I will update this review once the formal test results have been published.
The Air Flow rate is stated to be 53 – 187 CFM.
Although this machine hasn’t been on the market as long as the other 2 models, it already gets excellent user reviews.
The BreatheSmart Flex is designed to handle small-medium sized rooms measuring up to 700 sq. ft.
If you need more air cleaning power than the Flex is capable of achieving, you should check out the other models instead:
- Original BreathSmart – 1,100 sq. ft.
- BreatheSmart Fit50 – 900 sq. ft.
Please note that, whilst the Flex model is suitable for room sizes of up to 700 sq ft., it does not come with the Smartsensor or WhisperQuiet technologies that are found on the larger more expensive models.
3. Speed Settings and WhisperQuiet Technology
There are 4 speed options to choose from, together with a 2, 4 and 12 hour timer to control circulation.
The higher the speed setting, the more efficient the air cleaning process.
The noise emission levels for each speed setting are:
- Speed 1: 39 dB
- Speed 2: 42 dB
- Speed 3: 49 dB
- Speed 4: 55 dB
As I have previously mentioned, the Flex model does NOT come with Alen’s WhisperQuiet Performance Technology, which is designed to help to keep the noise emissions from these machines at a quieter level.
To give you some idea of the effect of the WhisperQuiet Technology, the Fit50 and the Flex machines emit approximately the same noise levels at each speed setting despite the fact that the Fit50 is a more powerful machine.
Everyone has their own personal tolerance levels for noise emissions, but the general consensus amongst those who have reviewed these machines is that they are only noticeably noisy on the top speed setting.
4. Smartsensor Technology
Unlike the other 2 models, the BreatheSmart Flex air purifier does NOT come with Alen’s Smartsensor Technology.
This means that you will manually have to select which of the 4 speed options to choose at any given time.
The Smartsensor technology checks the air quality in your room and automatically adjusts the machine’s speed setting to the most suitable one. If you want this feature, you will need to check out the Fit50 or the original BreatheSmart machine instead.
5. Optional Ionizer
Although the HEPA filters ought to be good enough to deal with most of the unwanted air particles, there is an optional ionizer unit.
Personally, I am not a fan of ionizers due to the risk of excessive ozone emissions into the home.
Alen claim that their machines are “ozone-safe”, and they may be right, but I am still a bit cautious about this issue.
You will have to make your own mind up about whether or not you need to use the optional ionizer unit on this machine.
6. Filter Life & Replacement
The lifetime of any filter will depend upon how often and how intensively it is used.
As a rough guide, however, you will need to replace the filter on the Flex machine every 9 months or so.
You don’t need to keep track of how long a filter has been in use because the air purifier itself will actually tell you when the filter needs to be replaced. The Filter Change Indicator on the Flex model is based solely upon run time rather than a combination of run time and air conditions.
7. Lots of Nice Color Options
The Alen BreathSmart Flex Air Purifier is a stylish and contemporary looking machine.
There are some quite traditional color panel options, like white or black, but there is also a wide range of more interesting color options to choose from.
Here are some of my favorites …
Alen BreatheSmart Flex- Video
Here is a video of the Alen BreatheSmart Flex Air Purifier …
Alen BreatheSmart Flex – My Verdict
The Alen BreatheSmart Flex air purifier is an excellent option for those who need to remove unwanted air particles from small to medium sized rooms, but who don’t want to pay extra for the benefits of the WhisperQuiet or SmartSensor technologies.
It comes with a choice of powerful HEPA filters and looks great.
Check Price of the BreatheSmart Flex
You can read my comparison reviews of the Alen BreatheSmart range of air purifiers here:
- BreatheSmart vs BreatheSmart Fit50
- BreatheSmart Flex vs BreatheSmart Fit50
- BreatheSmart vs BreatheSmart Flex
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