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Finally after comparing, I went ahead and ordered the Blue 311 Auto for our living room which is approximately 420sf.
I also bought a separate filter cover that's shown in my pictures and an additional filter to have on hand.
The unit arrived well packaged and without damage.
It came with a main filter installed and a a light gray filter cover but tbh, I will use the light gray cover while cleaning and drying the dark gray cover I have on it now. I as I prefer the dark (name is actually Winter Reed) over the lighter gray. I also like the quality of the upgraded cover. It's a bit thicker and looks nice.
The set up was simple. It's really just plug it in and go.
I like that this unit has 4 mode settings and indicator lights to show air quality and when the filter needs replaced.
I have noticed one time when out of nowhere the air quality sensor light briefly turned from blue to orange then back to blue.
The light sensor color indicators and level info are Blue (good), Orange (moderate), and Red (polluted).
The main filter change sensor is supposed to switch on after 6 months of use but I haven't had it long enough to confirm if that works yet.
For maintenance, I do run my vacuum brush over the outer filter cover once a week to clean any dust off of it which, there always is. This was also an immediate indicator to me that this fella is doing its job!
I will also run a damp cloth on the the plastic exterior at the same time just to keep it clean and in the best working condition.
Noise Level:
This 311 Auto unit has 4 modes.
✔Auto Mode: (fan speed will change depending on the air quality it senses).
✔Night Mode: (whisper quiet, low speed)
✔Everyday Mode: (medium speed)
✔Boost Mode: (fastest speed and very loud).
Boost mode is like, wind tunnel loud! Way too loud for us to watch TV in the same room if it was on. But this mode is not for everyday use. The only time I've used boost mode is when there is a specific reason i.e.,dogs came in from rain or I may have cooked/baked something that has a lingering smell, etc. I would just turn it on boost for 10 minutes or so to dissipate whatever the odor issue may be.
We typically have it set on auto mode or everyday mode and it's very, very quiet. I would say auto mode is more quiet or no louder than an average fan that's on it's lowest speed and everyday mode is maybe as loud as a fan on medium setting.
▪️Please see video I took of the different modes to show the sound difference between all four settings▪️
I have now had this particular unit running 24/7 for about 2 months and we love it! We live in Washington State so when it rains and our fur babies go out for break, any "wet dog" smell is gone in minutes if I kick in the boost mode but everyday mode will also take care of that within an hour or so.
Sadly, I also know fire season will soon be upon us for summer and I have no doubt both units will do a fantastic job at keeping the quality of air inside our home filtered, clean and smelling fresh during the seasonal bad air quality.
We will be tackling a full home remodel next year which we'll be adding central heating and air but even then, I plan on keeping both these units up and running!
Would I recommend this Blueair 311 Auto?
Absolutely 100%.
Summary: All in all, if you suffer from allergies/asthma like me, have animals, or simply a home without filtered air and are teetering on whether or not to purchase, go for it! You won't regret it! Personally, these air purifiers have honestly changed my life! I wish I would've found this company sooner! I HIGHLY recommend!
If I must find something negative, I guess I would have to say their OEM filter replacements are pricey but this was not a deterrent for me. They also offer an auto ship filter service for a discount.
I give this an easy 5 star!
(I was NOT paid for this review and was not asked to leave one. I have no affiliation with this company other than being a new-ish forever customer)!
Hopefully this will help someone!
