Levoit LV-H134: is This Giant Air Purifier Still Worth It?

Full Review

The Levoit LV-H134 is a large air purifier designed for rooms up to 492 sq. ft. (45.7 m²). It uses three-stage filtration technology, has some smart features, and is one of the largest Levoit air purifiers.

What I like about this Levoit is that it’s CARB-certified, ozone-free, and 100% safe to use.

I would like to point out that this air purifier is much bigger than you may think, so keep that in mind before buying it.

Keep reading to find out how it performed in our tests for performance, noise, and power and whether it’s worth buying.

How We Tested the Levoit LV-H134?

1. For the filter efficiency testing, we used the Temtop LKC-1000S laser particle meter, which measures PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3), Particles (per/L), and HCHO (mg/m3) in the air, and also calculates the AQI.

2. We placed the Levoit LV-H134 in a 560 sq. ft. (52 m²) room. Then, we recorded the initial air quality values using the Temtop laser particle meter and let the Levoit LV-H134 run at maximum speed.

3. After 60 minutes, we measured the new values using the Temtop laser particle meter and saved the data.

4. Next, we placed the Levoit LV-H134 in a glass box, which we then filled with smoke. Then, we measured how much time was needed for the air purifier to remove all the smoke from the box.

5. Using a special noise measurement tool, we tested the air purifier’s noise level at all speeds. We measured the noise level on the dBA scale.

6. Finally, we measured the power usage at all speeds using an energy meter, after which we calculated how much it would cost to use the device at a particular fan speed for one month. For reference, we used an energy price of $0.12 per kWh.

As I’ve mentioned many times before, this is a large air purifier designed for spacious rooms. It covers areas up to 492 sq. ft. (45.7 m²) and will fit perfectly in a large living room, a large bedroom, or any similar room. The LV-H134 cleans the air 4.8 times per hour in a room of the recommended size.

I have to say that I have been using the LV-H134 for some time now in everyday use, and it has shown excellent results in neutralizing smoke, pollen, cooking odors, and dust.

In addition to personal testing in my home, we tested this air purifier in a room of a similar size to the recommended one.

Testing in a 560 sq. ft. (52 m²) Room

We placed the Levoit LV-H134 in a 560 sq. ft. (52 m²) room and measured how well it improved the air quality over one hour.

While operating at maximum speed, the LV-H134 improved the air quality by about 94%, which is a fantastic result and proof that this is a highly efficient air purifier.

It reduced the PM2.5 particulate matter from 111.4 to 6.9 µg/m³. When comparing this result with some other air purifiers we also tested in this room, the Levoit LV-H134 ranks near the top as one of the best and most efficient air purifiers. Its biggest competitor, the Blueair 211+, improved the air quality by about 92% in this test.

I believe that the high-quality filters and large CADR are the reasons the Levoit LV-H134 achieved such great results in this test.

Performance – Smoke Removal Test

A huge CADR of 312 CFM (530 m³/h) and highly effective filters make this air purifier one of the fastest in the smoke test.

It needed only 12 seconds to remove all the smoke from the glass box. As you can see in the chart below, only the Levoit Core 600S (9 seconds) and the Blueair 211+ (11 seconds) were faster in this test.

This result puts the Levoit LV-H134 among the best air purifiers for larger rooms, making it a great option for smoke removal and overall a powerful machine.

When it comes to testing noise levels, I always favor devices with more fan speeds. More fan speeds give you more options for setting up the device to your needs.

The LV-H134 has four fan speeds and is relatively quiet at the lowest settings. At the first speed, it produces only 41.8 dBA, which is a fantastic result for such a large air purifier.

Compared to competitors, it is one of the quietest devices at the lowest speed. For example, the Alen FLEX produces a sound of 41.2 dBA at maximum speed, which is just 0.6 dBA quieter than the LV-H134.

However, at maximum speed, the situation is totally different. The Levoit LV-H134 produces a sound of 70.3 dBA and is definitely the loudest air purifier at the maximum speed we have tested. What fascinated me was that it was 10.6 dBA louder than the Blueair 211+, which has a similar CADR.

In general, the Levoit LV-H134 is too loud at maximum speed but bearable at other speeds, which means that it’s not that loud overall, especially considering that you’ll rarely use it at maximum speed.

The Levoit LV-H134 surprised me the most in the power use test. I can’t believe such a powerful air purifier uses a motor of just 45W. For reference, the Levoit Core 300 uses a motor of the same power but with a much lower CADR.

Levoit did a great job optimizing the LV-H134 motor. If you were to leave the Levoit LV-H134 running at maximum speed, 24 hours a day, for one month, your electricity bill would increase by about $4.43. This isn’t a high cost considering the size and CADR of this device.

However, what surprised me even more is that the Levoit LV-H134 is one of the largest power consumers compared to air purifiers in a similar class. Refer to the chart, and you will see what I’m talking about.

Besides the power use, there is also the cost of replacement filters, which luckily only need to be changed approximately every 6-8 months. Although they are very large, they are not too expensive.

When you add up the cost of power use and the price of replacement filters, the Levoit LV-H134 is reasonable to maintain annually. However, personally, I would have liked it if the device was a bit cheaper.

Filtration Technology

The Levoit LV-H134 uses a large filter, cylindrical and hollow in the middle, which is mounted on the lower half of the unit. This air purifier uses the 3-stage filtration that we also see in other Levoit air purifiers.

It does not use an ionizer, UV light, or any other additional filtration technology. Most importantly, it is CARB certified and 100% ozone-free, which means it is entirely safe to use.

The extent to which the LV-H134 uses a quality filter has been confirmed in performance tests, giving fantastic results. In addition, I would like to point out that I like the size of the filter, which is one of the largest ever seen on a Levoit air purifier.

Pre-filter

The first filtration stage is the nylon mesh pre-filter, which is literally glued to the True HEPA filter. This filtration stage is the first and is designed to stop any large particles of dust, dirt, hair, and the like, thus preserving the True HEPA filter and extending its life. I recommend that everyone regularly maintain the pre-filter and vacuum it at least twice a month.

True HEPA Filter

The second filtration stage is the H13 True HEPA filter, which is also the most crucial filtration stage on this machine. True HEPA filter removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles with 0.3 micrometers (µm) diameter.

This means that this filter purifies out small particles such as fine dust, smoke particles, and allergens such as pollen and pet dander.

Activated Carbon Filter

The activated carbon filter is the last stage of filtration on this appliance. Its purpose is to help neutralize odors and other gasses. It physically adsorbs smoke, odors, and vapors. It filters out compounds such as formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

I like the fact that the Levoit LV-H134 uses a pellet-based carbon filter, which is known to give better results than carbon-coated fiber filters, which are widely represented on the market.

One air purifier that definitely stands out for the quality and performance of its magic filter is the Alen FLEX, which has the option to purchase a carbon filter with 2+ lb of carbon included. If you have huge problems with odors, you should also consider that option.

How to Replace the Levoit LV-H134 Filter?

The Levoit LV-H134 does not use washable filters, which means that you need to replace the old filter from time to time. Fortunately, you don’t have to manually track when to change filters because Levoit has a filter reset indicator that lets you know when to change the filter. This is a small LED icon located on the control panel that lights up red when it’s time to change the filter.

Please note that the filters on the Levoit LV-H134 are long-lasting and last, on average, between 6-8 months. The filter replacement process is straightforward and consists of just a few steps.

Total time: 10 minutes.

Installation and Setup

Before starting the Levoit LV-H134, you need to prepare it for use. To begin with, you need to unpack the device from its shipping packaging. Then take the filter out of the device, unpack it from the plastic bag, and put it back into the machine.

The next step is to attach the power cord to the port under the filter cover at the bottom of the air purifier. This completes the basic steps before starting up the LV-H134 air purifier.

To avoid blocking the airflow, you need to place the unit in the desired location, always on a hard surface and at least 15 centimeters away from walls or other objects. The last step is to plug in the air purifier and switch it on.

Design

The first thing I thought when I saw the Levoit LV-H134 was that it reminded me a lot of some large speakers. Although it has a similar (cylindrical) shape to many competing devices, I find this air purifier somewhat bulky and perhaps oversized. This large device consists of the filter at the bottom and the motor and control panel at the top.

The build quality of the LV-H134 air purifier is ok and reasonably sufficient for this kind of device. The plastics are acceptable, and everything seems to be in place. This air purifier does not have a carrying handle, which is justified given the weight and size of the device, as I think carrying it would be very complicated. However, the wheels at the bottom make it much easier to move the machine from room to room.

The Levoit LV-H134 is currently available in white, so I’m sure it fits into almost any environment.

Control Panel

The Levoit LV-H134 has a control panel located at the top, consisting of buttons, indicators, and a display. The buttons on the touch panel are touch-sensitive, sufficiently sensitive, and very nicely arranged to facilitate the use of the device. The buttons on the control panel are Power, Fan Speed, Auto, Sleep, Display, Filter, and Timer. Each button controls a separate function, which I will describe in more detail in the following paragraphs of this air purifier review article.

In addition to the buttons, LED indicators indicate the status of individual commands, for example, the current fan speed. In addition, each button is essentially an indicator, as it lights up when it is active. According to the current air quality, the air quality indicator around the control panel lights up in different colors.

Finally, a display shows the current air quality as a PM2.5 value. In addition, the display shows the value of the timer if it is active.

The Levoit LV-H134 remembers the last settings used and activates them the next time you switch on the device. Please note that the device must be connected at all times for this option to work.

Airflow

The shape of the Levoit LV-H134 air purifier can be said to be cylindrical. The filter is located on the bottom half of the device, so the air inlet openings are also located on the bottom half, on all sides (360 degrees).

The Levoit draws air through these openings; the air is then filtered and pushed out through the grilles on the upper side.

Size and Dimensions

The air purifier weighs 18.6 lb (8,44 kg). The dimensions of the device are: 12.8 x 12.8 x 29.2 inches (32,6 x 32,6 x 74,2 cm).

The Levoit LV-H134 is a huge air purifier. It is essential to consider where to put it and whether you have enough space for such a device before you buy it. Believe me, it is much bigger than it looks!

What’s in the Box?

When you buy the device, you will receive an air purifier, a True HEPA filter (pre-installed), a user manual, and a filter reminder card.

Before running the Levoit LV-H134 for the first time, I recommend you read the installation and setup tips I described at the beginning of the review.

Features Overview

The Levoit LV-H134 has many advanced features to boast about. However, I still think that the lack of a smart app option is a significant disadvantage. A smart app would have contributed a lot to this device and taken it to higher levels. If you have read the review of the Levoit Core 400S, you know how much the smart app contributes to the device and how many new possibilities it opens up.

However, advanced options such as the air quality indicator, air quality sensor, and auto mode are an integral part of this device.

In the following text, you will find explanations of the most important features of the LV-H134 air purifier.

Air Quality Sensor and Indicator

The air quality sensor is one of my favorites, and I think it is the most important option on this device. It is basically a laser particle counter that detects PM2.5 particles in real-time.

This sensor is located on the back of the device, but the most interesting thing is that it works in combination with some of the other features on the device. Thus, the current air quality is displayed as a PM2.5 value on the screen. The PM2.5 value on the display shows the number of particles (µg) detected in 1 cubic meter (m³). PM2.5 refers to particulate matter (PM) that is less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (µm) in diameter. These particles, also known as “fine particles,” are so small that they can only be detected with an electron microscope and remain in the air longer than heavier airborne particles such as dust and mold.

Indicator Color	Air Quality
Blue	Very Good
Green	Good
Orange	Moderate
Red	Bad

In addition, an air quality indicator is placed around the control knobs. This indicator lights up in a different color depending on the air quality. You can see what each color means in the tables below.

Suppose you are not using the unit in automatic mode. In that case, I recommend that you monitor the air quality indicator and manually switch to a higher or lower fan speed if necessary.

Auto Mode

Auto mode is another option that works with an air quality sensor. Basically, when you put the device in auto mode, it will monitor the current air quality and switch the fan speed as necessary.

Indicator Color	Fan Speed
Blue	Sleep Mode
Green	Low Mode
Orange	Medium Mode
Red	High Mode

This means that if the air quality in your room is very polluted, the device will switch to High Mode, or if the air in your room is extremely clean, it will switch to LOW or Sleep Mode. See the table below for a detailed overview of how Auto Mode works.

Sleep Mode

Sleep Mode is the most helpful option if you intend to use the device in a bedroom or other room where the air purifier must operate as quietly as possible.

When you switch the air purifier to sleep mode, it automatically switches off all LED indicators and changes the fan speed to the lowest setting.

Timer

As the name suggests, the timer is an option to set the time when you want the machine to switch off. On the Levoit LV-H134 air purifier, the timer can be set between 1 and 12 h.

Filter Reset Indicator

The filter reset indicator is another handy option in this device. This is basically an indicator located on the control panel that lights up when it is time to change the filter. This is very useful as you will not have to manually monitor the wear of the filter and be careful when you need to change it, as Levoit will do it for you.

Display Off

Display off is an advantageous option that turns off all the indicators on the device with one touch. This is very useful if, for example, you are using the device in a darkened room and if you might be disturbed by glowing LED indicators.

Warranty

Levoit gives the same 2-year warranty for all devices. However, you must register the device on the Levoit website immediately after purchase to activate and confirm the warranty.

Levoit is a sincere company, and so far, I have not had any comments that they have hurt anyone on the warranty. If you need anything, you can contact them via their website, email, phone, or Facebook.

Room Coverage and CADR

The Levoit LV-H134 is a large air purifier covering rooms up to 492 sq. ft. The device cleans the air in that room 4.8 times in one hour. This air purifier has a very high CADR rating; most importantly, AHAM has tested it. The CADR for dust is 326, pollen 384, and smoke 317.

This excellent air purifier fits into a large bedroom, large living room, kitchen, open-plan office, basement, or similar room. I would also like to point out that this air purifier cleans the air once per hour in a 2340 sq. ft. room and twice per hour in an 1170 sq. ft. room.

FAQ on Levoit LV-H134