High-Powered Way to Destroy Viruses and Remove Pollutants – Cleantech UVC Air Purifier Review [Updated w/ Video]

We are in a day and age when ensuring that you are breathing clean air is critical. We all have seen those dystopian and apocalyptic movies of how the Earth’s atmosphere is practically unbreathable and humankind is struggling to adapt and survive. While we aren’t there (yet), we do have a lot of work to reverse the damage we are doing to our planet. In the meantime, wildfires, winds, pollution, bacteria, and viruses are present in the air we are breathing at home. To ensure we breathe healthier air, many people, including my family, are turning toward in-home or in-room air filters and purifiers to help. The Cleantech UVC air purifier is one of those devices I recommend families use – even beyond the home, as I will explain. Also, I have an exclusive 10% discount code at the end of the article. (*Disclosure below.)

In recent years, the air quality outside has gotten worse, particularly in California, where I live. We have had monstrous wildfires that are pushing vast volumes of smoke into the atmosphere. And the wind currents are spreading that smoke throughout the state and even the country and world. As a result, we have frequently been getting Air Quality Index (AQI) alerts warning us of unsafe levels of pollutants and particulate matter in the air we breathe outside, forcing us to close windows and ensure better air quality indoors.

Unfortunately, that is only a stop-gap measure as the quality indoors can get bad if there isn’t any type of air circulation, filtration, or purification in place at home when the windows are closed. So what can you do? Well, if you have a central HVAC system, be sure you replace your primary system’s air filter regularly and use one that is the best quality possible.

But that is only part of the solution. While HEPA filters are good at removing contaminants and particulate matter that is larger in size – things like dust, smoke, pollen, dander, allergens from the fur of cats or dogs. Those particles can get trapped in a good-quality HEPA air filter. What happens to smaller (and potentially more dangerous) particles like viruses and bacteria? Because of their size, those pass through the filter. You need to have a better way to destroy those viruses and bacteria.

This is where a special type of Ultra Violet light called UVC comes into play. UVC light is a special part of the UV spectrum that can obliterate viruses and bacteria, making them harmless. Hospitals use massive UVC lights to sterilize hospital rooms, but these are not good things to have at home. UVC is harmful to your skin and eyes with prolonged exposure. So the solution is good, but for use in the home, you need something safer and more practical.

This is where the Cleantech Air Purifier is the perfect solution. As I will explain, this compact air purifier does both the HEPA filtration AND the UVC zapping of viruses and bacteria.

Cleantech UVC Air Purifier – a simple yet powerful design

If you look at other air filters and purifiers on the market, you will find that many of them have many functions like Smart Home connectivity, WiFi, fancy displays, and other potentially non-needed features. The Cleantech UVC air purifier truly keeps things straightforward.

For those of you wanting to see a video walkthrough and review of the Cleantech UVC Air Purifier, you can view the video on my YouTube channel or directly below:

Cleantech uses a simple process – pull the air in from the bottom using a fan, run the air through the easily replaceable HEPA air filter, and then passing a mirrored cylindrical chamber that has a large UVC bulb that “zaps” bacteria and viruses and then pumping the air out through the top of the device. That’s it!

The HEPA filter does need to be changed every few months. This does depend on the usage and what level you have the fan running at. Luckily, replacing the filter is simply a matter of turning the Cleantech upside down, removing the four “feet” (which are actually screws) from the base, and taking the plastic cover off.

From there, you will see the cylindrical HEPA air filter, and you just take it off and replace it. A replacement filter costs around $25 and is available directly from the Cleantech site or on Amazon.

But I believe the real purification magic is above that HEPA filter. When you have the HEPA filter off, you can peer up into the main body of the Cleantech UVC air purifier and see a large, long UVC light bulb that pretty much extends the full height of the air purifier.

A mirrored surface surrounds the UVC bulb, which allows the UVC light to bounce the powerful bacteria and virus-zapping light much more effectively. While I don’t recommend doing this, I did take the HEPA filter out and turn on the Cleantech to see the UVC light in action (note: I only did this to take photos and videos for a very short period of time – and I wore UV-blocking sunglasses just as an added precaution).

The usage-life of the UVC bulb is about two years running the air purifier all of the time.

As I mentioned, the Cleantech UVC air purifier has only the core functionality needed for effective air purification. On the top of the air purifier is a small button (it is a physical button and not a soft-touch button). Press it once to turn it on and run the fan and purifier at high speed for 2 hours. Press it again, and it will run for 24 hours at a lower speed.

The fan noise is relatively low, actually. You will definitely hear the Cleantech when running on the high-speed setting, but it is much quieter when you put it into the low-speed mode. If you use a sound machine or white-noise generator, the Cleantech is a perfect replacement for that, so it is potentially great in a child’s room.

A dorm or apartment use case

I wanted to share an important use case and a good reason to get a Cleantech UVC Air Purifier. One of my daughters is finally off to college after doing her first year entirely at home. We are definitely excited to experience on-campus activities, but that also means potential exposure to COVID-19.

She is in an apartment and has three other suitemates. Unfortunately, only a couple of weeks into the start of school, one of her suite-mate got Covid. Honestly, my wife and I weren’t really surprised that this happened. There are many in-person activities, classes, and general person-to-person interactions now happening.

Long story short, her suite-mate had a mild case (probably thanks to vaccinations) and has fully recovered. But it got me thinking…having an air purifier that effectively removes airborne viruses and bacteria should probably now be considered a dorm room or apartment essential.

While it is pretty much impossible to remove all viruses and bacteria from the air, reducing the potential viral load of something like COVID-19 is definitely an excellent defense to have.

So, I happily gave my daughter the Cleantech UVC air purifier for her apartment room. And I told her to run it on high when people come to visit. And then to put it on low the rest of the time, like when she is alone studying or sleeping.

What’s not to like?

Obviously, there are many, many air purifiers available on the market today. What I like about the Cleantech air purifier is both its simplicity but also its simplicity. Yes, I wrote simplicity twice. The Cleantech is easy to use. Press the button to turn it on and press it again to lower the fan. That’s easy.

Replacing the HEPA filter requires no tools. Just unscrew the bottom and replace it. I’m pretty sure just about anyone can do it.

And lastly, there is simplicity in the design. There is a fan that pulls in the air. That air passes through the HEPA filter, which eliminates VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). And then, it is pulled through a mirrored chamber that has a large UVC bulb, and the purified air comes out the top. Very simple.

On the Cleantech site, this medical-grade UVC air purifier has a retail price of $599 but is currently listed at $239. I think the reduced price, given the size of the purifier, is the proper market price for this air purifier. So, be sure to shop around when looking for this filter. Amazon has this filter currently listed at $239 (originally priced at $499).

Discount code: On the Cleantech site, used code “HIGHTECHDAD10” for a 10% discount!

The replacement HEPA filter price at $25 is quite reasonable, in my opinion.

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Regardless, can you truly put a price on breathing clean, purified, and potentially virus-free air? I feel a bit better about my daughter in college, knowing that she has purer air circulated throughout her apartment. And, the Cleantech UVC air purifier is the one doing it!

Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page.

HTD says: It’s important to breathe clean air for a healthy life. But with airborne pollutants, particles, contaminants, viruses, and bacteria pervasive in any environment, you need to seriously consider a good quality air purifier. The Cleantech UVC air purifier not only removes contaminants via a HEPA filter, it also destroys airborne viruses and bacteria via Ultraviolet-C.