There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder, “Do they really work?” In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
Westinghouse 1804 Portable Air Purifier
The Tester
Brandon Carte, tech editor who believes everyone should know the importance of good air quality.
The Brief
The Westinghouse 1804 is a portable battery-powered air purifier that removes bacteria, viruses, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors, and allergens from the air.
I’ve done my best to follow CDC-recommended guidelines to keep myself and those around me safe from the coronavirus. I frequently wash my hands, wear a mask indoors, and keep my distance in public places.
The CDC says increasing ventilation and using an air purifier are additional steps you can take to help reduce indoor airborne contaminants. So, I recently added the Westinghouse 1804 to my PPE arsenal (next to my disinfectant wipe dispenser, of course) to use during a recent road trip.
This portable air purifier is rechargeable and uses a three-stage system to clean the air surrounding small spaces. It's about the size of a metal lunchbox and weighs only 2 pounds. It comes with a leather strap for easy transport, lasts for up to 8 hours on a single charge, and has two fan speeds.
Although I haven’t taken the Westinghouse 1804 on an airplane just yet, it came in handy to purify the air during a recent hotel stay. As soon as I finished disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, I set the purifier on a table in my hotel room and fired it up. I appreciate how quiet it sounds and had no issues falling asleep while it ran.
Westinghouse Westinghouse 1804 Portable Air Purifier
Westinghouse Westinghouse 1804 Portable Air Purifier
Key Specs
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Runtime: 8 hours
- Loudness: 34 decibels
- Fan Speeds: Two
- Filter Type: H13 Medical-Grade HEPA Filter
Although I can’t actually see the purifier working its magic, I’m confident that its HEPA filter, oxygen generator, and NCCO reactor work together to remove germs, fine particles, allergens, odors, and volatile organic compounds from the air.
If you’re curious as to whether or not it’s strong enough to capture viruses or aerosolized droplets that contain the coronavirus — the answer is yes. The virus that causes COVID-19 is roughly 0.125 micron in diameter — which falls within the range of particles that HEPA filters can capture quite well (0.01 micron and above). According to the EPA, using an air purifying device along with other best practices recommended by the CDC can reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 indoors.
If you’re still not convinced, the purifier’s active oxygen generator and NCCO reactor can generate active oxygen with ozone within the system — and low-level ozone has been shown to neutralize coronavirus particles.
Westinghouse also published test reports which prove the purifier has no issues removing formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, toluene, ethylbenzene, tetrachloroethylene, benzene, ammonia, and acetic acid from the air. Westinghouse demonstrated it successfully removing bacteria from an enclosed environment, too.
The manufacturer has also published videos showing the purifier eliminating smoke, so the device would likely come in handy for folks who live in areas that experience wildfires.
A few things worth mentioning: An air purifier is only as good as its filters. So, you’ll have to replace the filter every 6 to 18 months depending on how long it takes you to reach 3,000 hours of total use. Westinghouse says the purifier’s NCCO reactor has a shelf life of 3 to 5 years, but it’ll need replacing sooner if it becomes covered with dust or oily substances.
Although you cannot wash and reuse the HEPA filter, the purifier’s vents can be cleaned with a brush or vacuum cleaner and its exterior body can be wiped down with a wet cloth.
Also, at the time of publishing, the TSA, FAA, and IATA have no rules or regulations against bringing and using an air purifier on a plane, but you might want to check with your airline prior to bringing the Westinghouse 1804 on a commercial aircraft.
Lastly, the Westinghouse 1804 is a personal-sized purifier, meaning it can clean air in a 100-square-foot radius. If you have a larger space, we recommend checking out our reviews of full-sized air purifiers.
The Closing Argument
As travel numbers increase and many countries begin to open their borders, the world remains largely susceptible to COVID-19 infection — especially the unvaccinated. When used along with other best practices recommended by the CDC, running an air purifier like the Westinghouse 1804 can be part of a plan to protect yourself and your loved ones against infection.
Shop Westinghouse 1804 Air Purifier
Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
