Coway Airmega AP-1512HH(W) True HEPA Purifier with Air Quality Monitoring

10 reviews for Coway Airmega AP-1512HH(W) True HEPA Purifier with Air Quality Monitoring

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Phil in Magnolia – 15 November 2020

   
   Update: 12/12/23:I have now purchased a total of four of these Coway air purifiers to date. I have three installed in different rooms in my house, and I have one in my office at work.I am completely satisfied with their operation, which is completely unnoticeable and without any discernible noise except for those very infrequent occasions when the unit does detect something in the air which causes it to increase the fan speed for a short period of time. Even then, the operation is very quiet.The units at my home run continuously 24 hrs/day on the Auto setting. The one in my office at work is turned on only when I’m in the office.I’ve replaced filters quite a few times, and it is an easy exchange. The unit also should be cleaned with a vacuum and damp cloth periodically, and there is an air quality sensor on the side of the unit which should be cleaned as well. Filter removal and replacement is easily done.The Whirlpool unit that I mention in my original review below has now been thrown out, having given me quite a few years of good service, however it was never as quiet as the Coway.My original review follows, without edit (other than correcting my mis-spelling of the product name, which is Coway and not Conway as I wrote originally).==============I purchased two of these Coway air purifiers after doing a fair amount of internet research, reading reviews and so forth.Most significantly (to me), the Wirecutter website has recommended this air purifier since 2015, and in their most recent updated comparison review they continue to give it their top recommendation. In their review, they explain how they have tested air purifiers for the past seven years, a total of 42 different air purifiers evaluated over that time period, and this Coway is their pick.Unpacking and setting these up was simple and straightforward. Note that it is necessary to remove the front cover of the unit and remove the pre-filter, carbon filter and HEPA filter, remove each from the plastic packaging before reinstalling and beginning to use this air purifier. I make this point because one of the other reviewers apparently didn’t think to read the instructions before putting their unit into operation, discovering later that the filters inside the unit were still wrapped in plastic! Read the instructions!!When operating, the unit is practically silent – very surprising. I have them both on the ‘Auto’ setting, which results in the fan operating at the first (lowest) speed unless the sensor detects more dirt in the air, requiring a higher speed. When the fan speed is manually increased to the higher settings, it can be heard but is not objectionable. Both units have been operating for several days now, and 99% of the time they operate at the lowest setting. We have one unit in the bedroom and the only way to tell that it is operating is by noting the indicating lights, or holding your hand over the top of the filter where you can detect the airflow coming out.It is interesting to observe how the units do (very) occasionally increase speed, and when that happens the operating light will change from blue to red, and the fan noise will become very slightly louder, just enough to hear in a quiet room.By comparison, I have a

   Whirlpool Whispure Air Purifier, HEPA Air Cleaner, AP51030K

   purchased in 2012 which we are still using. It has similar capabilities to this Coway unit, but is much louder even on the lowest speed setting. (to be clear, we have not used it continuously since 2012, but I do not recall it ever being as quiet as this Coway.)Since we are just beginning to use this Coway product, I don’t have any long term experience to include here. I will return to this review and update it if I have significant comments to add.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Lisa427 – 17 March 2017

   
   I don’t want to be one of those giddy-with-first-impressions folks in not testing a product thoroughly for months before posting a review… but this thing makes me wanna do just that. It arrived simple & understated.. and by that I mean, unpacking was easy and it did not take brute force or cleaning stray pieces of styrofoam for 30 minutes after unboxing. It slid out, I removed two pieces of protective styro caps, and unwrapped the shrink wrap. I took off the plastic wrap from the filters (which were already in place so I didn’t have to read a book of instructions first to figure out where to put them). Then I simply plugged this sucker in, and it worked on auto right out of the box. It was like unboxing an Apple product — so intuitive, so seamless, so simple. Kudos to manufacturers. And of course, as first impressions go… it looks good. So I love it even more because it’s pretty.Aesthetics aside, it is also built well… and perfectly sized. I attached photos to show that it’s not too tall, nor is it too deep. It is a bit shorter than my nightstand, which is of an average height. It’s a bit on the wide-side, but you can position it however you see fit. It does need about a foot on the right side to allow for proper air flow, and probably a good idea to keep the front end free & clear since the “circle” is from where it pulls in air… but I found this guy could be positioned in many places throughout my home without being an eyesore. I have it in my bedroom currently, but I plan to buy one for my family room as well, and maybe the basement also. It really does work. My bedroom is often very stuffy, especially in the winter when we have the heat temperature set to 73 degrees — I like it warm & toasty, but my nasal passages feel otherwise. I do suffer from pollen allergies, as well as mild allergies to dust mites, grass, ragweed, mold spores, and pet dander (although I still have 2 shed-heavy fur-babies.) But my allergies are never bad enough to warrant any real attention, I just suffer through it since they’re pretty mild. HOWEVER, I keep saying mild when in all reality, I didn’t know the difference between no allergy and mild allergy until sleeping one night with this purifier running. Man what a difference. My nose was not all dry and cracked up feeling on the inside. It also was not runny or scratchy, which is how it often feels after running my humidifier all night (which I run to keep my nose from feeling so dry!) This machine does not mask the issue, or dampen it, or freeze/cold draft it away…. it CLEANS THE AIR. I know, I know… it’s hard to imagine, but boy is it easy to feel. I slept for the last 2 nights like a newborn baby. Granted, I’ve only had it for 2 days but the difference from walking into my bedroom vs the other rooms of my home, cannot be ignored. My home isn’t particularly old, or stuffy, or dirty, or dusty. Yes we have pets, but I am a Dyson maniac and we have a brand new HEPA HVAC filtration system; we have our ducts cleaned regularly; and, there are no smokers or other reasons for contaminated air (at least that I can find.) However, when plugging this thing in… it ran a blue and then purple light for a bit on auto, but then changed to RED (which freaked me out a bit as it sounds rather aggressive). And it ran that way for about 10 minutes. I left it to its job, and when I returned a little while later, it was back to a blue light and I could barely hear it running anymore… but the air did in fact feel lighter, crisper, and easier to breathe. It felt much like the very first time I walked onto my hotel balcony in Vancouver, Canada and took in a giant breath. It just felt… clean.Air quality is a legitimate thing, and having poor air to breathe makes life a less tolerable for people with allergies or lung issues. Again, not something I suffer from necessarily, but I appreciate the cleaner air this provides nonetheless. So I cannot imagine how much better breathing could be for someone that does have serious allergies, asthma, or other breathing troubles. I would say this gem is a no brainer, if you do. But even if you don’t, you’ll still notice the difference after plugging this guy in and letting it run for about the first hour.I do think the auto feature could become a bit of a power monger as I have never witnessed it turn off after being on auto as if to say “okay, I’m done. All clean.” So I do set the timer feature when I’m not going to be upstairs and I shut it off when I’m leaving the house for awhile. Another thing to note is that there are studies about potential harmful effects to lungs when using the UV and ion cleaning features. It is recommended that you only use these settings when not in the house as breathing in UV treated air is said to be harmful as a result of O3 air, similar to breathing in air high in ozone levels. So I only set my purifier with these features when not in the room.I can’t yet speak to durability or filter tolerance, but they are priced reasonably enough that changing once or twice a year would be totally acceptable. I will update if I find that longevity or level of purifying impact worsens, or if cleaning/upkeep isn’t as great with this machine moving forward, but for now… I am a Coway air purifier believer.** UPDATE – after 7 months of constant use, I will say that my initial reactions were still pretty accurate in that this purifier does do what it claims to do. I notice that it is reactive to smells, smoke and other air-purity issues when they are occurring, even when I am simply cooking sausage or something extra smokey or fragrant in the kitchen — while I have this unit upstairs in my bedroom, which is a considerable distance from the kitchen (bedroom in front of the house on 2nd floor, kitchen in the back of the house on the 1st floor.) So I know that it indeed works because I can hear it begin to run rapidly when I accidentally burn something or even when making bacon or something that has a smell or odor. I also know that it is filtering dust and pet hair, because both of my Coway purifiers (I have one upstairs and the tower unit downstairs) needed HEPA filter replacements at 6 months. The manufacturers suggestion is 6 months for the carbon odor filter, and 1 year for the thick, HEPA filter.. but my HEPA filter was so dirty at 6 months that the “change filter” light came on for the tower unit, so I figured I would change this 1512HH unit at the same time, and it definitely needed it. The filters were both clogged with so much dirt, dust and pet hair.. I couldn’t believe this stuff was floating around my house for it to grab. In fact, even strands of my hair were in the filter! And my hair is pretty long, well below shoulder-length. I figure it must have sucked it in from the floor. Pretty cool purifier… I still give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up after 7 months of use.

   
3. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   JSERRR – 27 December 2023

   
   It’s so close to perfection. Huge hepa filter, beautiful design, small footprint, oscillating, remote control, no unnecessary “smart” features to break AND it automatically manages air quality in auto mode. However, as a fan, it’s lacking. I’m replacing a tower fan with this because I wanted something that filters the air (allergy boy here). The tower fan pushed a lot more air. Setting one is quiet. Two get a little loud, around 50-60 decibels according to my meter. 3 is very loud, mind you, I use this in a bedroom so the space is enclosed. Perfect for me as I sleep with a noise machine so the fan is now a noise machine. But it’s sorely lacking as a fan. Fabulous purifier, even my air quality sensor on my thermostat agrees the air is cleaner, but that’s all. If the fan wasn’t so loud for so little air flow, I’d be more excited to have it. However it’s a little disappointing in terms of it being advertised as a powerful fan. It’s not powerful at all and you can barely feel it’s on. That being said, it’s an excellent filter and air circulator and the fact that it’s a somewhat powerful fan (for a purifier) with a large filter that oscillates, makes it quite effective in a small area like my bedroom. I’m still going to have to get a dedicated fan, but the fan plus this filter is still cheaper than a single Dyson or equivalent hepa equipped fan. Do not expect this to be anything like a dedicated fan. It’s a filter that can direct its air flow. If that’s what you want, go for it! It’s honestly a great filter.

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   J. Bailey – 28 July 2024

   
   We’re in an area presently inundated by wildfire smoke. We’ve been using a 10+ year old HEPA filter that does a good job, but we needed another unit for a stand-alone office. After loads of shopping, we selected this one for features – and especially because it intakes front and exhausts top so it can be parked against a wall.On high, it’s amazingly efficient. We started one evening with a particle count of 150 in our bedroom, and it pulled the particle count down to 50 within 10-12 minutes. Automatic mode is great, though we adjusted the sensitivity to “high”.It’s also very quiet compared to the other filter, and to our corsi box.The packaging was strong / great. The unit is aesthetic, and smooth to operate. The buttons are large and easy to read / operate. The only disturbance is the air quality light is quite bright, and keeps me awake. I think it can be turned off, but I use it in the daytime, so I just park a folded handkerchief on the unit at night to block the light.I would buy this product again in a minute.

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Todd C Blake – 30 April 2024

   
   ………This Coway Air Purifier is outstanding, and I am not sure why it gets any bad reviews at all, unless someone just receives a bad unit from the factory (it happens, folks). Also, we have not had any of the bad “odors” that some people have complained about, either with the Coway air purifier itself, or with the replacement filters. However, the black colored model does look a lot like a large subwoofer, if that bothers anyone….lol. I did a LOT of research for an air purifier to replace the Bissell “My Air” air purifier that we had in our master bedroom, and this Coway air purifier kept coming up as a top pick everywhere. The Bissell “My Air” works well, but it’s just too small to keep the air in our large master bedroom suite constantly clean, especially with our ever-shedding German Shepherd puppy always being in the bedroom with us at night.This Coway air purifier came well packed. It was double-boxed, and reinforced with cardboard packing material inside, and shrink-wrapped (no damage to the boxes or Coway unit at all). This Coway air purifier is very easy to setup. All that needs to be done is to open the front panel and unwrap the plastic around the charcoal and HEPA filters. Then replace the front cover, plug the unit in, and turn it on. Just don’t forget to unwrap the filters before turning the unit on.This Coway air purifier is fairly quiet on the first 2 fan speed settings, but it gets pretty loud on the 3rd setting. However, the fan moves a LOT of air on the 3rd setting. The Auto and Eco modes are nice features, and they both seem to work well. We just keep the Coway air purifier in Auto, with the ionizer turned off, all of the time, as the ozone produced by the ionizer irritates my throat while sleeping with the unit on all night.I actually tested the dust sensor function in auto mode by shaking a dust rag in front of the Coway air purifier, and the fan speed ramped up from setting 1 to 3 for about 5 minutes, until the air was clean again, and then it went back to the 1st fan speed setting automatically. The dust sensor sensitivity is also adjustable by pressing the fan speed and ionizer buttons simultaneously for 2 seconds. Then use the fan speed button to adjust the 3 sensitivity levels (the unit is set to the middle “standard” setting at the factory). We have not had to change the dust sensor sensitivity level, as it seems to work well on the standard setting. Also, it is recommended that the dust sensor be cleaned with a cotton swab every 2 months. It is located behind the little door on the upper right of the unit.The large, bright power LED also indicates the dust particles ptesent in the room. Blue is clean air, purple is semi-dirty air, and red is really bad air quality. If the bright LED bothers anyone at night it can be turned off by holding down the ionizer button for 3 seconds.The 1,4, and 8 hour timer is a handy feature, if needed, but we never use it. We just run this Coway air purifier in Auto mode all of the time, and it works like a charm. It uses very little power (around 36 watts on high with the ionizer off), so I don’t feel any need to constantly turn the unit on and off. The charcoal and HEPA filter indicator lights come on individually when it is time to change the appropriate filter, and the lights are reset by holding down the filter button for 3 seconds. The filter change timer can also be factory reset by holding down the filter change reset button for 2 seconds when neither of the filter change indicator lights are on (if the filters are changed early).The manufacturer recommends cleaning the washable mesh pre-filter every 2 weeks, changing the charcoal filter every 6 months, and changing the HEPA filter once a year. The charcoal and HEPA filters are NOT washable, and must be replaced. Only the mesh pre-filter is washable and reusable. I would take these filter cleaning/changing intervals with a grain of salt, and mileage may very, depending on the air quality in the individual home. I have seen many 3rd party companies that make the filters for this Coway air purifier. Most of them are much cheaper than the OEM Coway filters, and they have good reviews. However, we have only used the OEM Coway filters so far, and while being kinda over-priced, they work very well. Oh, and as previously mentioned, don’t forget to clean the dust sensor every 2 months or sooner, as well. The rest of this Coway air purifier can be wiped down and vacuumed out as part of regular maintenance.Overall, this Coway brand is an excellent air purifier, and I highly recommend it, especially for anyone with allergies, asthma or pets in the house. It also filters cooking odors very well. Just keep in mind that this Coway air purifier is fairly large, so it needs plenty of room to function properly. Also, the shiny piano black model does attract finger prints like a magnet, if that bothers anyone. Oh, yeah, and as I previously mentioned, the black model looks a lot like like a large subwoofer. It is a unique design for an air purifier, to say the least. However, those minor “issues” should not detract anyone from purchasing this great Coway air purifier. Pick one up today!

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – 6 June 2024

   
   We have several sizes, qualities, and stated efficiencies of air purifiers in our house.This one is far superior to our Honeywell, Germ Guardian, Levoit, and Newpad.It is QUIET!It is “intelligent” enough to have an auto mode that will work at the appropriate speed and length of time to the point it detects no pollution, then turn off/into Eco mode.It ACTUALLY does this.I was hesitant about the ozone as a byproduct of the ionizer, but the levels generated are less than some motors on some large fans. It also is not to be used continuously. You don’t have to use at all if you wish.Using it on turn-on in a room will help extend your filter life.To me, the best part, is they got the order layers of filtration right.Others don’t have a prescreen before the carbon.The carbon fills up with more particulate faster, lowering the deodorizing capabilities faster, making the mesh denser faster, and straining the fan.Also more will pass through the mesh initially, clogging the HEPA filter faster.With the ionizer on for an initial amount aof time when starting, it will cause floating particle to combine into larger clumps. A greater percentage of total particulate in room will be collected in prescreen. This purifier tells you when to wash the prefilter, AND when to replace the HEPA filter!Let’s face it, though some instruct to wash the carbon filter and dry/recharged in the sun, it doesn’t work. In my experience, if left too long, even a pressure nozzle will not remove even VISIBLE particulate collected. If you have a pet, FORGET IT, the hairs are NEVER coming out.Also, I dont believe some advertised as such are truly composed with activated charcoal and not just mesh dyed black. True activated carbon filters cannot be “cheap.”The HEPA filters, TRUE HEPA filters, are EXPENSIVE. TThe lower price/budget/amazing deal filters ARE NOT TRUE HEPA, I guarantee. Read the fine print. Many of them give a MERV and a HEPA rating. They dont coexist.I am happy to have a machine that will save on energy and filters by telling me an actual performance quality and not a vague every so months.AND it’s quiet.AND affordable for us, to run, and maitain.

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Gregory – 18 May 2024

   
   The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH has been a game-changer for improving the air quality in my home. From the moment I started using it, I noticed a significant reduction in dust, allergens, and odors. The four-stage filtration system, including a HEPA filter, works remarkably well, ensuring clean and fresh air throughout the day. It’s surprisingly quiet, even on higher settings, and the air quality indicator is a helpful feature that provides real-time updates. The sleek design and compact size make it a perfect fit for any room without being obtrusive. The energy-saving eco mode is a nice bonus, helping to keep electricity costs down. Overall, the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH is an outstanding air purifier that delivers excellent performance and value. Highly recommended!

   
8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Shasha – 24 July 2024

   
   I have a neighbor who loves to smoke out in this balcony. I am not sure where the smell is coming from, most likely through the vents, but my room ends up smelling like cigarettes. I decided to take it upon my own hands to get rid of the smell and not be a second hand smoker. I decided to purchase this, after so much research and reviews. This has been great so after 6 months of use, and has helped get rid of the smell.I originally purchased the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH True HEPA, however having a dog, who is a shedder, I knew it would not be ideal for me with the hair getting stuck in-between the filter. It was just harder to clean, whereas this newer version has just a plate in the front and you can just wipe it so easily. I love this filter, and forever be a Coway fan. I do believe this product comes with 1 year warranty, but have your receipt ready and make sure you register your product on their website once you get. They will also provide you a discount on filter replacement!

9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   John D. – 11 June 2024

   
   I live in the woods with quite a few animals. Between the pollen, mold, dander and fuzz, it can be a challenge to keep the it all at bay. This filter has proven to do it very well – the best out of probably 10 over the years. It’s not small, and it’s a lot of plastic. But it really does work.I have one in my bedroom which is almost over kill for the size of the room but it Really helps with getting a good nights sleep. Between the white noise it makes and the shear amount of air it moves through the room, I wake up feeling rested and not having to clear my throat of dust or other nasties that would’ve been floating around in the air.I have another in the basement going next to the dehumidifier. It really helps condition that space by removing dust generated by the workbench and woodstove. Bot of which had been pretty rough at points in the past. It means I’m able to work for lengthier periods of time without getting raspy. Bonus, it helps keep whatever dust is produced more localized and not allowing it to migrate to other areas in the house unlike before.I’ve got another in my office. It’s as much white noise there to avoid distractions as it is reassurance that the air is nice and clean. In the office (and bedroom) I like the ionizing feature. It gives the air a nice ‘edge’ to it. In the shop space I go back and forth on using the ionizer mainly because it seems to lead to a lot more dust on things (as opposed to get sucked up into the filter for disposal).I’ve pointed several folks to this filter now and everybody who got one has loved it.

10. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Andrew Z – 14 July 2024

    
    I think this is a good air purifier in all respects except for the air quality sensor. The sensor is simply unreliable. It will all of a sudden go from blue to red and then suddenly the fan goes up to full blast (when in auto mode). But I know there has not been an instantateous change in air quality from great to awful as I have just been sitting here in bed on the computer (and I did not experience a bout of flatulence or anything like that which could affect air quality). Then I will open the sensor door and blow on it, and maybe turn the machine off and on again, or whatever, and then it will go down to blue again. So I’d give it a 5 if it were just an air purifier with no sensor, but I’ve paid for a product with a sensor where the sensor does not work reliably. Oh and the air quality sensor light is very bright. So you may find like me that you need to place an object over it. But for that, it’s a great unit and I have two of them now.