2 min readHome tech giant Shark just brought two air purifiers to the Australian market, which they claim won’t need a new filter for five years. Most air purifier brands recommend changing out your HEPA filter every six months, but Shark’s NeverChange5 H filter, which the devices are named after, is rated to last five years, albeit under very specific conditions.
The air treatment system uses four layers of filtration; a DebrisDefence filter to catch large dander, the Pet Particle Barrier which catches pet fur, an Activated Carbon filter to neutralise odours, and then the NanoSeal HEPA filter. Shark claims these additional layers help to prolong the life of the HEPA filtration, but the testing behind it is limited compared to the air purifier’s capacity.
The NeverChange5 Air Purifier is rated to 60 square metres, whereas the NeverChange5 Max can handle up to 130 square metres. The five year lifespan is based on these devices operating for 12 hours a day, in a 12 square metre, and 28 square metre space, respectively. Extrapolating the numbers, this suggests that operating in a space big enough for their full capacity, these filters will actually last about a year. And if they’re running 24/7 as most air purifiers do, the lifespan sinks back down to that six month mark. I don’t doubt the testing, but how that plays out practically is a different story.
Lifespan claims aside, the filters capture 99.97% of particle matter which qualifies as a medical grade HEPA 13 filter. The pair of purifiers also include similar anti-odour technology to that found in Shark vacuum cleaners, and a power efficient auto mode that amps up the fan speed as necessary. While Shark says they are “ultra quiet”, the brand doesn’t provide a decibel rating for either device.
Priced at $349 and $449 the two NeverChange4 Air Purifiers represent excellent value for money. Most air purifiers covering 60 square metres cost between $650-$1,000, while those covering 130 square metres are in the $1,500+ price range. Replacement filters are currently unavailable on the Shark website, but a two pack retails for $112.47 on Amazon, so we anticipate they will cost around $55 in Australia. With prices like these Shark has once again undercut the market in a big way, even if you do need to replace the filter every six months.
