Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier Review – Still Worth in 2023?

After testing almost all smaller air purifiers from Levoit, it was time to buy and try the Levoit model designed for medium-sized rooms. The first model I decided to test was the Levoit LV-PUR131. It is a slightly larger device, square in shape, medium in size, and has many advanced features.

Levoit LV-PUR131 is an air purifier designed for medium-sized rooms, up to 322 sq. ft. This is one of the first devices launched by Levoit. It uses the classic 3-stage filtration we already saw in Levoit air purifiers.

The Levoit LV-PUR131 boasts advanced features such as a smart sensor, air quality indicator, and advanced auto mode.

I tested the device for a while in the living room. Find out how Levoit LV-PUR131 behaves in real-life conditions, how quiet it is, how much electricity it consumes, as well as the answers to many other questions in this comprehensive air purifier review.

Levoit is proven to be a high-performance manufacturer. In Levoit LV-PUR131, the company put all the premium parts, including a well-known 3 in 1 filtration system. You can be sure that the room’s air will be filtered with all that.

Levoit LV-PUR131 Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier:

Design

The build quality of the Levoit LV-PUR131 air purifier is exceptional. The plastic is hard and well done. Everything lies in its place and is sealed properly.

The device is white except for the control panel, which is black. In my opinion, the control panel may be too sensitive, so you will be able to notice small scratches after just a few days of use.

The device is square, with straight edges. The designers of the Levoit LV-PUR131 let themself put some elements that are not standard on the market. For example, the control panel is located behind the air outlet, which is not very common with air purifiers. But don’t worry, this at first sight weird position won’t make it difficult to operate the device.

Levoit LV-PUR131 is available in white color. The LV-PUR131 will fit into almost any environment because of its neutral design.

Control Panel

The control panel is located on the top of the device, just behind the air outlet. There are control buttons on the control panel and indicators located in the middle part of the panel. A beep is heard each time the button is pressed. The buttons are responsive to touch, respond well to touch, and are very precise.

There is also an air quality indicator on the control panel in addition to the buttons and button indicators. The control panel buttons are the power button, display off button, sleep mode button, auto mode, fan speed, and timer button.

Airflow

Levoit LV-PUR131 has an interesting way of drawing air. The product draws in air from the back and only through the sides’ openings.

The air is then filtered and exits at the top, vertically.

Size and Dimensions

Levoit LV-PUR131 is a portable device, medium in size for this air purifier class. It is light and easy to carry. The air purifier weighs 11.49 lb. At first glance, due to the square appearance, you may think that the device is much heavier. The dimensions of the device are 14.6 x 7.2 x 18.5 inches.

What’s in the box?

When you buy the device, you get 1x Levoit LV-PUR131 air purifier, 1x activated carbon filter, 1x true HEPA and preliminary filter combination, 1x user manual, and 1x warranty guide.

Features Overview

Smart Auto Mode

Levoit LV-PUR131 has an air quality sensor that measures the room’s air quality. The sensor reads PM 2.5 particles in the air and determines the current air quality.

A smart auto mode is an option that works following the air quality sensor. Precisely, when auto mode is active, Levoit adjusts the fan speed depending on the room’s air pollution.

I expected the PUR131 to also have a light sensor like the Winix C535 and Winix 5500-2 have. It could automatically switch to sleep mode with that sensor if the room is dark.

Unfortunately, Levoit LV-PUR131 does not have this feature. Regardless, auto mode is a great option that I recommend using whenever you can. Using auto mode, the air in the room will be cleaner, and you will save on electricity consumption.

Air Quality Indicator

The air quality indicator also works in combination with the air quality sensor. The air quality indicator lights up a specific color according to the room’s air quality. It is located in the middle of the control panel. It is inactive by default and only activated if the air purifier runs in auto mode.

In my opinion, the device in this price range should have the ability to read air quality in real-time regardless of whether the auto mode is on or not.

The air quality indicator can glow in four different colors. Red indicates that the air is terrible and immediately switches the motor to high fan speed. Yellow means that the air quality is moderate. In that case, the auto mode switches the fan speed to medium. If the light is green, the air quality is good, and the device will operate at low fan speed. When the indicator lights up blue, the air quality is excellent, and the motor will run in sleep mode.

Timer

The Levoit LV-PUR131 offers a timer option. The timer can be set to a time interval between 1h and 12h. The increment is 1h. With a timer, you can leave the room knowing that the air purifier will shut down on its own after its time is up. This feature can be useful if you want to limit the air purifier to work for a specific time.

Filter Check Indicator

The device has a filter reset indicator that will light up when it is time to replace the filter. The downside I would mention for the filter reset indicator is that the indicator reset button is awkwardly positioned. Some people will find it hard to find it and reset the filter.

Regardless, this is a great option that makes it much easier to use, as it solves worries about when a filter needs to be changed. You can find how to reset the filter reset indicator in this Levoit LV-PUR131 review below in the filter replacement procedure section.

Fan Speeds

Levoit LV-PUR131 has 3 fan speeds. However, I would also like to include sleep mode, which is far quieter than the first gear and can be described as fourth speed.

I always prefer air purifiers with as many fan speeds as possible because then each user can find the optimal speed that suits him.

It is also a big plus for me if the device has a sleep mode, which reduces the speed. I say this because many devices switch to sleep mode and just turn off the indicators and other lights, while fan speed changes to the first speed.

Display Off Button

Levoit thought of every user. Suppose you plan to use the device in the bedroom and you are too bothered by any light. In that case, you can turn off the indicators on the PUR131 model at any time by pressing the display off button.

Sleep Mode

When active, sleep mode will switch the fan speed to the device’s lowest speed. You will not even feel that the device is working at this speed, so you will fall asleep with the device on. You can also use it in rooms that require complete silence.

I really like that sleep mode is much quieter than the first speed.

When sleep mode is on, the Levoit PUR131 does not turn off the indicators, so if they bother you, you can turn them off at any time using the option described above (Display Off Button).

Room Coverage and CADR

Levoit LV-PUR131 is designed for rooms up to 322 sq. ft. It is ideal for rooms where people stay daily, such as the living room, kitchen, or office.

Due to the very quiet operation in sleep mode, you will be able to use the device in the bedroom without any problems. Levoit LV-PUR131 has a CADR rating of 135 CFM (230 m3/h).

Filtration Technology

Levoit LV-PUR131 uses 3-stage filtration. The first and second stage of filtration is pre-filter combined with a true HEPA filter, the third stage is a carbon filter. The first two filters trap particles that are flying freely in the air. The last filter, the carbon filter is used to remove bad smells and other odors.

The filters on the Levoit LV-PUR131 are not washable and must not be washed under any circumstances.

Pre-filter

The pre-filter is the first stage of filtration. The primary purpose of a pre-filter is to capture large particles such as dust, lint, fibers, hair, and pet fur.

The pre-filter should be cleaned on average once a month. You can clean it with a vacuum cleaner or with a brush. This will protect other filters, extend their lives, and make the device easier to operate. My recommendation is to clean the pre-filter every two weeks if you have pets.

True HEPA Filter

The true HEPA filter is combined with a pre-filter. The True HEPA filter is actually the second stage of filtration. This filter removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter. This fantastic filter removes small particles such as mold spores, tiny dust particles, part of the smoke, and allergens such as pollen, dander, and mites.

Never clean pre-filter because fine dust or bacteria may be released back into the air if cleaning is attempted. Just clean the side on which is a pre-filter.

Activated carbon filter

The carbon filter is made up of carbon pellets. It does not require cleaning. Carbon filters’ primary purpose is to reduce VOCs, cigarette fumes, harmful gas, pet odors, food odors, and odors.

How to replace the Levoit LV-PUR131 filter?

Levoit LV-PUR131 filters should be replaced on average between 6-8 months. The filter reset indicator will notify you when it is time to change the filter. You may need to change the filters earlier than the specified period if you notice: increased noise when the air purifier is on, decreased airflow, unusual odors, or visibly clogged filters.

Total time: 10 minutes.

Noise Test

Levoit LV-PUR131 uses 3 fan speeds and a sleep mode. This device features a strong motor with reliable airflow. Regardless of motor power and size, the Levoit LV-PUR131 is a very quiet device. It’s a lot quieter than I expected from a device of this size, especially when running in sleep mode.

The LV-PUR131 in sleep mode produces a sound of about 41.6 dBA. You won’t even hear the device working. I still like this device because the difference in volume between speeds is not significant. The motor is of good quality, and has no rattling or making unpleasant sounds at any speed.

Below you can see a table with all the measurements. My measurements may differ from the manufacturer’s measures because I perform measurements at home, not in the laboratory.

Performance Tests

According to the specifications, this is a device that belongs to the range of Coway AP-1512HH and Afloia Mage air purifiers, which I also tested before.

I tested Levoit LV-PUR131 in several different rooms, in distinct conditions.

Since the LV-PUR131 is intended for rooms up to 322 sq. ft. I singled out tests in rooms of the most similar dimensions. I will show the selected tests below. I would add a conclusion based on performance tests that the Levoit LV-PUR131 is a compelling and efficient device. In all the rooms and conditions in which I tested it, I felt a significant air quality improvement.

320 sq. ft. Room Test

I tested the Levoit LV-PUR131 in a 320 sq. ft. room. I tested the device at a third speed for a period of 60min. The results made by LV-PUR131 are excellent. In just one hour, the device lowered the AQI from 135 to 11 and improved the air quality in the room by about 92%. Below is a board with all the values ​​before and after the test is completed.

320 sq. ft. Room Test on Auto Mode

I tested the Levoit LV-PUR131 in a room of identical dimensions as in the previous test, but this time I turned on auto mode. It is important to note that auto mode does not detect odors, and because of that, the device was slightly less efficient than when it was working in third gear all the time.

In 60 minutes of use, the Levoit LV-PUR131 improved air quality by about 86%. In this test, the device lowered the AQI from 122 to 17.

Operating Costs

The Levoit LV-PUR131 uses a 40W motor. The motor’s power is slightly lower than with similar devices, which is useful when looking at energy efficiency. In my opinion, Levoit has made the right balance between air cleaning efficiency and motor power and thus got the best out of everything.

Interestingly, the Levoit LV-PUR131 in sleep mode consumes only 3.6W of electricity. If you leave the PUR-131 running at third speed, 24 hours a day for a month, the device will spend about $ 3.

In addition to the cost of electricity, there is also the cost of replacement filters, which need to be changed on average twice a year. Fortunately, the price of replacement filters for the LV-PUR131 is slightly lower than similar, competing products.

Let’s consider the electricity consumption and the price of replacement filters and put all the costs on paper. Levoit LV-PUR131 is not a big consumer on an annual basis.

Levoit Warranty and Customer Service

Since I have tested many Levoit devices, I have already had the need to contact their support several times and make sure they are professional and up-to-date.

Levoit offers the ability to contact you in several different ways. I mostly prefer email or Facebook as a way to make contact. When I need support very urgently in very extreme conditions, I decide to call the company’s customer service.

The email for Levoit support is support@levoit.com.
The US’s Levoit support phone number is (888) 726-8520.

Customer support is very kind, and I got very extensive answers to all the questions that interested me.

FAQ

Pros and Cons

To revise, here are the advantages and disadvantages of Levoit LV-PUR131:

Final Thoughts