Air purifier · medium-room
Winix 5500-2
A True HEPA purifier with a washable carbon filter and a defeatable PlasmaWave ionizer for medium rooms.
Total cost of ownership
- Annual filters
- $55/yr
- Device
- $160
- 5-year total
- $435
Certifications
- ANSI/AHAM AC-1smoke, dust, pollen
- Energy Star Room Air Cleanersefficiency
Overview
The Winix 5500-2 is a medium-room air purifier built around a True HEPA filter. Its Clean Air Delivery Rate is AHAM-verified at 246 cfm, and it uses a defeatable ionizer (can be switched off). Filters run about $55 per year, a typical running cost.
By the numbers
- Clean Air Delivery Rate
- 246 cfm (AHAM-verified)
- Real coverage at 4.8 ACH
- ~381 sq ft
- Manufacturer room claim
- 360 sq ft
- Filter
- True HEPA
- Ozone / ionizer
- a defeatable ionizer (can be switched off)
- Noise (low)
- 28 dBA
- Power draw
- 55 W
- Annual filter cost
- $55/yr
- 5-year cost of ownership
- $435 (device + filters)
- Certifications
- ANSI/AHAM AC-1, Energy Star Room Air Cleaners
Strengths
- + Practical Fit: 8.0/10
Watch-outs
- - Safety: 0.0/10
Who it is for
- · Bedrooms and medium living spaces
- · Light sleepers - it is near-silent on its lowest setting
What to know before buying
- · The replacement is Winix part #116130 (Filter H), a one-year set of one True HEPA filter plus a washable AOC activated-carbon filter; the carbon filter is rinsed and reused while the HEPA is replaced about yearly.
- · It is AHAM-verified with CADR around 232 smoke / 243 pollen / 246 dust for roughly 360 sq ft, and it is CARB-certified and Energy Star-certified.
- · Measured noise runs from about 35 dB on low to roughly 60 dB at top speed.
How it scored
Verified Performance
7.0/10 · 30%AHAM CADR, true sealed HEPA, air changes per hour, honest room-size match.
- +3AHAM Verifide CADR published A246 cfm (AHAM Verifide) - CADR is third-party verified by AHAM, not a manufacturer claim.
- +2Hits ~5 air changes/hour at rated room B5.1 ACH at 360 sq ft - Delivers at least 4.8 air changes per hour at its rated room size.
- +2Honest room-size claim Brated 360 sq ft, CADR supports 381 - Claimed room size is within what the unit's own CADR can clean.
Total Cost of Ownership
7.0/10 · 25%Computed annual filter cost vs the room-size class median. The number nobody surfaces.
- +5Annual filter cost vs class median A$54.99/yr (below class median) - Computed annual filter cost scored against the room-size class median.
- +1No proprietary filter lock-in Bcross-compatible filters - Filters are sold separately with cross-compatible equivalents.
- +1Washable pre-filter Bwashable pre-filter - A washable pre-filter extends main-filter life and lowers running cost.
Certification
5.0/10 · 15%AHAM Verifide, Energy Star, CARB, published lab efficiency.
- +2Energy Star certified AEnergy Star - Energy Star certified for energy efficiency.
- +3Published lab-tested efficiency AAHAM-listed CADR - Filtration performance is independently lab-tested and published.
Safety
0.0/10 · 15%Ozone and ionizer behavior. Ozone generators hard-fail.
- ·Defeatable ionizer, not CARB-verified Bionizer, no CARB listing - Ionizer is switchable but lacks a CARB ozone-compliance listing.
Practical Fit
8.0/10 · 15%Noise, filter-change indicator, energy draw. Smart features are neutral.
- +4Quiet at low speed B28 dBA low - Runs at 50 dBA or quieter on its lowest useful speed.
- +2Filter-change indicator Bindicator present - Tells you when the filter actually needs replacing.
- +2Energy draw disclosed B55 W - Discloses power draw at a standard speed.
- ·Smart features (neutral) Capp / auto mode - App control and auto mode are neither rewarded nor penalized.
FAQ
- Does the PlasmaWave feature produce ozone?
- PlasmaWave is an ionizing feature that generates a small amount of ozone when active. The unit is CARB-certified for ozone limits, and PlasmaWave can be switched off so the device runs purely as a HEPA and carbon filter.
- Can I turn off the indicator lights at night?
- Yes. A sleep or night mode dims the front light and lowers the fan for quieter overnight operation.
Related guides
This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-05-29. Scored under air-v1.0. Prices and certifications are re-verified on a cadence; see the methodology for how each rule fires.