When you’re on the hunt for an air purifier, the options and features can be a lot to wade through. With this review, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to decide if the GermGuardian AC4825E is the right air purifier for you.
The GermGuardian is an affordable option in comparison to the many smart air purifiers available. It doesn’t have any smart features, but it does combine both a certified HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and a charcoal filter to clean the air of dust, allergens, pet hair and odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This air purifier also has an optional UV-C light feature that helps to reduce bacteria, viruses, mold spores. The HEPA filter promises to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This is why it makes our list of the best air purifiers for allergies.
HEPA and charcoal filters
UV-C sanitizer
Ultra-quiet on low
Easy-to-use controls
3-year limited warranty
Made for rooms up to 153 square feet
22 inches tall
Gets rid of particles as small as 0.3 microns
Filter change indicator
Odor reduction
This air purifier is ideal to use in rooms 153 square feet or smaller. To use it, you turn a simple switch between three fan speeds — the air purifier is ultra-quiet on its lowest speed, but it does get somewhat loud on high. While the simple design is nice, it won’t fool anyone that this is not an air purifier. If you want something that blends into the background, this isn’t the right air purifier for you.
You can usually get the GermGuardian for around $100-$150, and it comes with a three year limited warranty and free support.
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GermGuardian AC4825E review: How big is it?
- Height: 21.5 (in)
- Diameter: 6.75 (in)
- Weight: 10.25 (lb)
The GermGuardian AC4825E is a lightweight air purifier at only 8.5 pounds. It’s tall and slim in comparison to some other air purifiers and can easily fit into a corner of your room. The user manual suggests keeping it at least one foot away from walls and furniture for proper airflow.
GermGuardian AC4825E review: How easy is it to use?
Because the GermGuardian AC4825E has no smart features, it’s very simple to use. The control panel consists of a simple knob that twists from off to speeds 1, 2, or 3, as well as a button to turn on the UV-C light sanitation. Our tester did find it a little difficult to tell when the UV-C light option was turned on or off. A light strip around the top of the air purifier turns on and off when the UV-C is on/off. In a bright room, you have to look closely to see if the light is on, but it’s very obvious in a darker room.
This air purifier is made to clean the air in rooms up to 153 square feet, so it’s likely best for a bedroom, especially a kid’s room or nursery.
GermGuardian AC4825E review: Performance
We tested the GermGuardian AC4825E under three conditions: the normal air in the room, the air after 10 matches were burned, and the air after five incense were burned. We tested each of these conditions on both the lowest and highest settings.
In 15 minutes on its lowest setting the GermGuardian cleared 13% of the smallest (0.3 microns) particles our air quality monitor tested when the air in the room was normal, 42.5% after the matches were burned, and 10% of 2.5 micron particles after the incense were burned. We weren’t able to calculate how much it reduced the smallest particles after the incenses were burned because there were too many for our air quality monitor to register.
In 15 minutes on the highest setting, the GermGuardian cleared 41% of 0.3 micron particles in the normal air, 63% after the matches were burned, and 75% after the insenses were burned. On the high setting, the air purifier had cleared enough of the smallest particles from the incense in the first 15 minutes in which we ran it, so we could calculate a reduction. However, it didn’t quite live up to reducing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns as promised.
Our tester notes that she has two cats, so there was likely quite a bit of cat hair picked up in the filters, too.
GermGuardian AC4825E review: What’s good about it?
The GermGuardian AC4825E is a very effective, easy-to-use, and affordable air purifier. We were impressed by how much it reduced particles in our match and incense tests, especially for its price point. If you want a no-frills, but a very effective air purifier, we’d recommend the GermGuardian.
GermGuardian AC4825E review: What’s not so good about it?
Many air purifiers you can buy now have smart features like being able to detect the quality of the air and automatically adjust fan speed based on that. If you can afford a pricier air purifier, you might want to consider one that has an automatic function like this because it’s otherwise hard to tell when your air purifier should be turned up to high and when it’s fine on low. Smart air purifiers are also often able to indicate the quality of the air for you at any given time, usually with a light that changes color from blue (good) to red (bad).
GermGuardian AC4825E review: User reviews
The GermGuardian AC4825E has excellent reviews, at 4.5 stars on Amazon and 5 stars on the company’s webpage. Amazon users who like this air purifier say that they noticed a big difference in asthma and allergy symptoms after starting to use the air purifier. One notes: “When my sister came from out of state, she asked if our cats ran away. She said our home had zero odor or scents, which is what I was going for.” Another reviewer wrote that they had stopped having to dust so frequently.
Many of the reviewers who give the GermGuardian low ratings complain of issues with circuit boards that burn out, causing a burning smell in their homes.
Should you buy the GermGuardian AC4825E?
The GermGuardian AC4825E seems like an excellent option for people who have problems with allergies, asthma, and excess dust or pet hair in their homes. This air purifier is simple, but does a great job of cleaning the air. It’s also great if you live in a smaller apartment, or want to use the air purifier in a bedroom.
GermGuardian AC4825E review: If this product isn’t for you
If you’re looking for a fancier air purifier, you have many options. On our list of the best air purifiers, we recommend the Levoit Core 400S. This one does have smart features like an auto mode and a light that indicates the air quality, so you can truly set it and forget it.
Other smart air purifiers we’d recommend include the Dyson Purifier Cool, which is one of the more expensive options you’ll find. The Dyson has a sleek, stylish design, power air purifying capabilities, and smart features.
You might also try the Coway Airmega 250, which also has a modern design that can easily blend into your normal decor, features like a smart mode that automatically adjusts, and a rapid mode for when you want to clear the air as quickly as possible.
Kasandra Brabaw
Live Science Contributor
Kasandra Brabaw is a freelance science writer who covers space, health and psychology. She has a bachelor’s degree in science and a bachelor’s degree of arts from the University of Syracuse; she completed her master’s of arts degree in journalism at Syracuse University in 2014. In addition to writing for Live Science and our sister site Space.com, Kasandra has written for Prevention, Women’s Health, SELF and other health publications. She has also worked with academics to edit books written for popular audiences.
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