Today we’re testing LG’s newest air purifier, the LG PuriCare AeroTower. How did it do in our battery of performance tests? Let’s find out.
Tall HEPA 360° air purifier
LG PuriCare AeroTower
The LG PuriCare AeroTower air purifying fan covers 818 sq. ft. with 360° of coverage. It utilizes a HEPA filter in tandem with a UVnano filter to purify the surrounding air. Our testing showed it was able to remove 88.8% of airborne particulates and improve the PM2.5 by 92.8%. Usability for the LG AeroTower was fantastic across the board. Whether setting up, using, or maintaining the device, it comes with a range of features to assist you. It is a tall air purifier at 44.1” and comes with a coverage area of 818 sq. ft.
Pros
- Fantastic usability
- Large coverage area of 818 sq. ft.
- Auto mode and internal sensors
Cons
- Tall design can be difficult to move around
- Can be pricey compared to other units on the market
Scoring
360° air purifier with fantastic usability
-
Design - 98%
98%
-
Performance - 92%
92%
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Quality - 98%
98%
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Usability - 99%
99%
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Value - 94%
94%
Summary
The LG PuriCare AeroTower is a tall air purifier with 360° intake and 818 sq. ft. of coverage. Purification tests for the AeroTower were solid, albeit not incredible. It removed 88.8% of airborne particulates and reduced PM2.5 from 12.5 to 0.9. While performance was good, usability was fantastic. With 3 different ways to control the device, auto mode, sensors, and a robust scheduling tool, using the device is incredibly easy.
In This Review
Purification Test | Noise Test | Usability | Dimensions | Specs | Summary
Purification Test
To test the purification performance of the LG AeroTower, we place the device in a medium sized room, take a baseline measurement of the current air quality, and then run the air purifier on the highest setting for 1 hour.
After the hour passes, we take another measurement of the air quality, and compare it to the baseline data to help us determine the purification performance of the LG AeroTower.
Starting Baseline
- PM2.5: 12.5
- PM10: 22.4
- Particles: 1334
- AQI: 51
After 1 Hour
- PM2.5: 0.9
- PM10: 1.5
- Particles: 149
- AQI: 3
Within the 1 hour test, the LG AeroTower removed 88.8% of air particulates from the medium-sized room we tested in (~14’x10’).
The LG AeroTower improved PM2.5 air quality by 92.8%
In order to get these measurements, we used the Temtop LKC-1000S+ professional air quality detector. This device allows us to get precise performance measurements and air quality data before and after the test.
Below, we’ve included information on the testing criteria and what defines good vs. bad air quality.
I found this performance to be good, but not great. In general, I like to see the PM2.5 and PM10 be as close to 0.1 as possible. Given the 818 sq. ft. coverage level, size of the unit, and LG name, I expected performance to be quite a bit better.
The Filters
LG’s PuriCare AeroTower uses 4 different types of filters to purify the surrounding air. The majority of these filters come as a 3-in-1 piece that can be replaced as needed.
These include:
- Pre-filter
- HEPA filter
- Carbon filter
- UVnano filter
Pre-filters are standard on many air purifiers, and remove large air particulates. Next, the HEPA filter is the main filtration system in the AeroTower. HEPA filters have proven to be effective at capturing air particulates as small as 0.3 microns.
The final piece of the 3-in-1 filter is the carbon filter, which helps to reduce VOCs and other odors.
Depending on which version of the LG AeroTower you choose, you may or may not have the UVnano filter in the device. This filter uses UV light to help sterilize the blades of the fan inside the air purifier. I am happy to see this distinction, as UV light works best when it can constantly stream light onto a stationary object as opposed to purifying incoming air.
In order to most effectively use the UV light, I would recommend turning off the air purifier for at least an hour per day to maximize the exposure of UV light.
Noise Test
To test the sound level on the LV PuriCare AeroTower we ran the air purifier on different modes and used a sound meter from about 3’ away to measure the level of noise created by the device.
Our results showed the following decibel levels from each mode.
1
22.1 dB
5
26.7 dB
10
39.8 dB
Turbo
48.4 dB
Our testing showed the decibel range of the LG PuriCare AeroTower to be between 22.1 – 48.4 dB. This is fairly common among air purifiers and is similar to the sound of a whisper to the sound of a refrigerator, depending on the noise level.
Common noise levels:
- 20 dB – rustling leaves
- 30 dB – whisper
- 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
- 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
- 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
- 70 dB – traffic, showers
- 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone
Usability Test
Usability for the LG PuriCare AeroTower is fantastic. The setup is simple, operation is easy and full of features, and maintenance is minimal.
Setup
The setup for the LG AeroTower takes 5 minutes to complete out of the box. Inside the box, there are a few pieces that need to be attached, but it’s simple to do and 1 person can manage it easily.
Here is what comes in the box:
- LG PuriCare AeroTower air purifying fan
- 3-in-1 filter
- Base
- Remote
- Battery (1x, for remote)
- User manuals
Once the AeroTower is out of the box, make sure to remove all packaging, including the bag around the filter. With that done, the device is effectively ready to run.
Controls & Display
Controls on the LG PuriCare AeroTower are straightforward and intuitive. On top of the device are 6 buttons that are touch activated. These buttons control basic functions of the device such as:
- Power
- Fan speed
- Modes
- Rotation
- Wi-Fi
- Sound
- UVnano on/off
These buttons control the majority of the basic functions of the device, and allow you to air purifier effectively without a remote or app.
Additionally, the LG AeroTower includes a display just below the air outlet. This robust display conveys information concerning the status of the device and the surrounding air quality.
The PuriCare AeroTower has internal sensors which can measure:
- PM1.0
- PM2.5
- PM10
- Temperature
- Humidity
This information is then displayed on the device with an associated color to help easily identify the current quality of the surrounding air.
In addition, the AeroTower can use this information with its auto mode to automatically adjust the fan speed to best suit the situation.
Remote & App
If you want further options to control the device, or wish to do so from a distance, you have a few options.
Included with the AeroTower is a remote that can magnetically attach to the side of the tower for safe-keeping. The remote can control the same functions as the touch buttons, as well as give you access to a sleep timer.
For even finer control or control away from home, you can connect the LG AeroTower to the LG ThinQ app. Connecting to the app is incredibly easy with the help of in-app instructions.
Once connected, you get all the same controls as the remote, in addition to more detailed air quality information and a more robust scheduling tool.
Maintenance
Maintenance for the LG PuriCare AeroTower is simple. There are two tasks you’ll need to take care of. These include:
- Cleaning the outside
- Replacing the filter
When cleaning the outside of the device, make sure you wipe down the air outlet and the moving vanes.
LG states the filter needs to be replaced once every year, but that depends on use. We find most HEPA filters need to be replaced every 6-18 months depending on use and environment.
Size & Dimensions
The LG PuriCare AeroTower is tall, very tall. In fact, it is more than half of my height. However, the size of the air purifier allows for a larger coverage area. The LG AeroTower can cover up to 818 sq. ft. with a CADR of 90 CFM.
Here are the exact dimensions of the LG PuriCare AeroTower:
- Depth – 10.4”
- Width – 10.4”
- Height – 44.1”
- Weight – 27.6 lbs.
Specifications
Specifications | |
---|---|
Model | U9CV1C |
Manufacturer | LG |
Depth | 10.4″ |
Width | 10.4″ |
Height | 44.1″ |
Weight | 27.6 lbs. |
Filters | HEPA, Carbon, UVnano |
Wifi Compatible | Yes |
Room Coverage | 818 sq. ft. |
CADR | 90 CFM |
Returns | Varies by retailer |
Warranty | 1 year |
Price | Check price |
Should you buy the LG PuriCare AeroTower Air Purifying Fan?
I would recommend the LG PuriCare AeroTower Air Purifying Fan if you’re looking for the following features:
- Easy to set up, use, and maintain: Using the AeroTower was a pleasure. It has 3 different control options (touch controls, a remote, and app connectivity) that allow access to a wide range of features. It took 5 minutes to set up, and maintenance is quick and easy. Internal sensors allow the device to have an automatic mode that makes the device easy to leave on and purify the air.
- Coverage for a large room: The LG AeroTower is tall, but that comes with a large coverage area. While it sits in the corner of the room, it can cover 818 sq. ft. In addition, the air purifier can oscillate and intake air from all directions.
- Automatic good performance: With internal sensors that measure the current surrounding air quality, the LG AeroTower can automatically clean the air. It uses the data from the sensors and automatically adjusts the suction mode to best clean the air. In addition, this automatic purification comes with solid performance.
For more information or to buy the LG PuriCare AeroTower Air Purifying Fan, click here.