Is the Winix AM90's CADR AHAM-verified, and does it emit ozone?

Its 246 cfm Clean Air Delivery Rate is AHAM-verified - independently tested, not a box claim. It has a defeatable ionizer (we found no CARB ozone listing).

What does the filter replacement schedule look like?

The activated carbon filter is recommended for replacement about every 3 months and the True HEPA filter about once a year. The mesh pre-filter is vacuumed or washed rather than replaced.

Can I turn off the PlasmaWave ionizer?

Yes, PlasmaWave can be disabled with a button on the control panel if you prefer mechanical filtration only.

Air purifier · medium-room

Winix AM90

Name: Winix AM90
Brand: Winix

A Wi-Fi 4-stage True HEPA purifier rated for 360 sq ft with an air-quality sensor and a defeatable PlasmaWave ionizer.

4.6/ 10

Limited

Composite (0-10), air-v1.0

Confidence: Verified

Bottom line

In our scoring the Winix AM90 earns 4.6/10, a weak result, and it stands out on practical fit (8.0/10). On the data, its 246 cfm CADR is AHAM-verified. Filters run about $100 a year (~$670 over five years with the device), a typical running cost. Its weakest area in our scoring is safety (0.0/10).

Where to buy

No buy link on this one: it scored Limited under our rubric, and we only link products we would shortlist ourselves.

Total cost of ownership

Checked 45 days ago

Annual filters: $100/yr
Device: $170
5-year total: $670

Which cartridge fits, and where to reorder it

Certifications

ANSI/AHAM AC-1smoke, dust, pollen
Energy Star Room Air Cleanersefficiency

Filters only protect you on their swap schedule. Get an email reminder when this one is due - one note around swap time, nothing else.

Overview

The Winix AM90 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 $100 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: 65 W
Annual filter cost: $100/yr
5-year cost of ownership: $670 (device + filters)
Certifications: ANSI/AHAM AC-1, Energy Star Room Air Cleaners

Strengths

+ Practical Fit: 8.0/10

Watch-outs

- Total Cost of Ownership: 2.0/10
- 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 AM90 uses a two-part system: a washable carbon pre-filter and the True HEPA Filter A (part 115115), with the HEPA rated for about 12 months.
· Published CADR is roughly 233 dust / 240 pollen / 230 smoke cfm, supporting a manufacturer coverage figure of around 360 sq ft.
· PlasmaWave is an ionizer feature that can be switched off; Winix notes an occasional chirping sound is normal when it is active.

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

2.0/10 · 25%

Computed annual filter cost vs the room-size class median. The number nobody surfaces.

0Annual filter cost vs class median A$99.99/yr (above class median (expensive to run)) - 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 B65 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

Is the Winix AM90's CADR AHAM-verified, and does it emit ozone?: Its 246 cfm Clean Air Delivery Rate is AHAM-verified - independently tested, not a box claim. It has a defeatable ionizer (we found no CARB ozone listing).
What does the filter replacement schedule look like?: The activated carbon filter is recommended for replacement about every 3 months and the True HEPA filter about once a year. The mesh pre-filter is vacuumed or washed rather than replaced.
Can I turn off the PlasmaWave ionizer?: Yes, PlasmaWave can be disabled with a button on the control panel if you prefer mechanical filtration only.

Compared head-to-head

Winix 5500-2 vs Winix AM90

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 2026-06-01. Scored under air-v1.0. Prices were last checked 45 days ago; the freshness chip above the cost panel shows the current state. See the methodology for how each rule fires.