Are you looking for an inexpensive air purifier to deal with issues in a single room? If you are, then the Levoit Vista 200 is one you'll want to consider.
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Levoit Corporation has only been around for a few years, but their home and wellness products have quickly gained popularity. The Vista 200 is the newest offering in their line of air purifiers.
A Levoit representative asked if they could send me a sample of the Vista 200 to try out and then write a review. I was happy to oblige.
So, in this review I'll cover all the features, plus I'll give you my honest opinion of what I like and dislike about it. I hope it will help you decide if this is the air purifier for you.
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What are the Best Features of the Levoit Vista 200?
3-Stage Filtration
Levoit Vista 200 Air Filter
The Vista 200 filter has three parts to it, and each plays a specific role in cleaning your air.
Image Source: Levoit.com
Uncomplicated User Control Panel
All the settings and the power on/off button are located on top of the unit.
The settings are straightforward and easy to understand. And, the buttons are responsive - just a light touch will do.
3 Fan Speeds
You have the choice of three speed settings: low, medium or high.
Of course, the higher the speed, the faster the air will be cleared, and the louder it will be.
When you turn the unit on, it remembers the fan setting from the last time you used it. So if you always use the same speed, you don't have to go through changing the settings every time you use it.
Sleep Mode
When you select sleep mode, the fan speed reduces to the absolute lowest it can go. It's even lower than the regular low speed, and you can't hear it at all.
Putting it in sleep mode also reduces the brightness of the display lights by one third.
You can turn the lights off altogether, too, but we'll get to that in a minute.
Timer
You might not want to leave the air purifier running 24/7. If you don't want to have to remember to shut it off, you can use the timer function.
Set the timer for 2, 4, or 8 hours, and it'll turn off automatically.
That's going to extend the life of the filter and save electricity.
Night Light
If you like having a little light in the room at night, you can turn on the built-in night light.
It gives off a nice warm yellow light, and it has two brightness settings to choose from.
Check Filter Indicator
On the control panel is an indicator that lights up to tell you to check the filter.
When you see that light come on, it means that the filter either needs to be cleaned or replaced. In either case, you don't want to ignore it.
After replacing the filter, you'll need to reset the indicator.
Display Off
If you don't want any lights glowing in the dark, you can turn off the display. All the lights will go out, but the purifier will continue to operate.
To turn the display back on, you just touch any of the buttons except for the power button.
Here's a video I made to show you all the features and how it works.
What size room will it cover?
According to the manufacturer, the Vista 200 is designed for rooms with an area up to 161 square feet.
That's the size of a medium sized bedroom or home office - about 12 x 14 at most.
But let's talk about this a little bit.
An air purifier's ACH (Air Changes per Hour) rating is important to know if you're considering buying it.
The more times the air is exchanged each hour, the better. If, for instance, you have problems with asthma or allergies, you'll want an ACH of at least 4.
Unfortunately, in the case of the Vista 200, we don't know the ACH number the given square footage is based on. So it's darn near impossible to say how good a job it can do on a room that size.
It might be adequate for a room that size, but maybe not. Without more hard data, it's hard to say.
There are other factors that play into how well a purifier can clean the air in a given space, too. The level of activity that goes on in a room, the height of the ceiling, the presence of pets, and the type of furnishings and products used there can make it easier or harder for the purifier to do its job.
That might explain why, when you read online consumer reviews, you find some people who say the Vista 200 is great and others who say it doesn't help at all.
If you need an air purifier for a larger room, check out the Levoit LV-H133. It covers up to 538 square feet and is much more powerful than the Vista 200. Read my review here: Levoit LV-H133 Air Purifier: Big Room? No Problem!
Is the Vista 200 quiet?
An important question, especially if you're going to use this in a bedroom.
On the lowest fan speed, it's almost silent. Standing a foot or so away, I can't hear it at all.
Turn it on high, though, and it's loud.
The noise level ranges from 26 to 52 dB. According to this noise level chart, 26 dB is somewhere between rustling leaves and a whisper, and 52 dB is about the same as light traffic or a refrigerator.
I don't have a decibel meter, but I compared how it sounds to the sound my box fan makes. On high, I'd say the Vista 200 is about halfway between medium and high on the box fan.
And, it's louder than my Dohm white noise machine. The sound isn't unpleasant, though. Just loud.
Medium, of course, is somewhere between the two.
What is its CADR?
I asked a Levoit representative for the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), and the answer was "40 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) in general."
Not the answer I was looking for.
A true CADR rating has three numbers - like 135/200/300 - and indicates how well the purifier removes smoke, dust, and pollen, respectively, when run on the highest setting.
"40 CFM in general" only tells me the volume of air the machine moves in a minute. It doesn't tell me how effective it is at removing contaminants from the air.
Plus, I'd like to know: Is 40 CFM the average of all three speeds? Or is it the rate for the highest speed? There's no way of knowing.
At any rate, 40 CFM is quite low in comparison with other reputable brands of air purifiers.
Also, I've learned that the CADR rating is a voluntary program. My guess is that, for some reason, Levoit has chosen not to get the rating done for the Vista 200. I hope they'll get this testing done soon and publish the results.
If this does happen in the future, I will update this post with that information.
Will it eliminate mold spores?
Yes, it will help.
It doesn't kill mold on surfaces, but it helps keep the spores from spreading through the air.
We know that's true because most mold spores are between 3 and 100 microns in size - large enough for the HEPA filter to trap them.
Does the Vista 200 produce ozone?
No, it doesn't.
This air purifier doesn't use UV-C light or ions, both of which produce small amounts of ozone.
How does the air flow through the unit?
Air is pulled in through openings that run the whole way around the bottom third of the housing.
Then the air goes through the circular filter and out the vents at the top.
How long does the filter last?
The filter will last an average of 5 to 7 months. Your air quality and the number of hours you run it each day has an impact on the life of the filter, too.
How do you tell when it needs to be changed?
There are a few signs that indicate it might be time for a new filter:
- It starts making more noise than usual.
- The airflow slows down.
- It smells funny.
- The filter looks clogged.
Before you go ahead and replace it, you can try vacuuming off the outside of the filter and see if that helps.
Click here to check the price and availability of replacement filters at Amazon.
What are the dimensions?
The Vista 200 stands about 13 inches tall and has a diameter of 8 inches.
It's lightweight and portable, weighing in at only about 3 pounds. That's because most of the parts are made of plastic.
How long is the power cord?
The AC adapter and cord are about 72 inches long. That gives you plenty of slack for plugging it in wherever you need it.
Since it unplugs from the unit, if you ever need to replace the adapter, it's easy to do. Just make sure you get the right voltage and current.
Is it energy efficient?
Yes, it is! This is one appliance that costs almost nothing to run.
According to the manufacturer, it costs less than $10 a year even if you let it run 24/7.
What certifications does the Vista 200 have?
The Vista 200 has two certifications of note:
ETL (Intertek) certified:
ETL is on the NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories) list, and it tests to UL standards. This certification means it's safe to operate the machine.
CARB (California Air Resources Board) certified:
CARB certification means that it was tested and complies to standards for both electrical safety and ozone emissions.
Where is the Levoit Vista 200 made?
It's made in China. That's printed right on the outside of the box.
What comes in the box?
Here's what you get when you buy a Vista 200:
Where can I buy it?
You can buy the Vista 200 directly from Levoit or you might find it on eBay.
Like to shop at Amazon?
Check the price and availability at Amazon by clicking here.
Does it come with a warranty?
Yes. When you buy a Vista 200, you'll get a one year warranty. That's not bad for an air purifier at this price.
You can also extend the warranty to two years by registering your machine at the Levoit website.
What are the pros and cons?
Here are the main likes and dislikes, based on consumer reviews I've read and my own experience using the Vista 200.
Levoit Vista 200 Pros and Cons
What People Like
Don't Like So Much
My Unscientific Experiment:
I did experiment with the Vista 200 a little bit in my home. Since my husband and I don't have allergies, and neither of us smoke, all I can really test it for myself is odors.
Right now, as I'm writing this review, it's summer. We don't have air conditioning in our house, so the windows are usually open. But I did close up one 120 sq ft room so I could try out the air purifier a couple of times.
The first time, I had cooked turnips for supper - pretty stinky. The smell was strong throughout the house, even though the windows were open. So I put the Vista 200 in my test room, turned it on high, and closed the window and door.
An hour or two later, I went back in and found that the smell had not improved. In fact, it smelled even worse.
A few days later, I thought I'd see if the Vista 200 would get rid of the musty smell from the vacuum cleaners I had been storing in that same room.
I took the vacuum cleaners out and put them in a different room. Again, I turned the unit on high and closed the door and window. After 12 hours, there was no noticeable change in the way the air smelled in that room.
Maybe I didn't give it enough time, or maybe my sense of smell is off. But I did not get the results I was hoping for.
This doesn't say anything about the Vista 200's ability to help with allergy and asthma problems. That's not something that I can test myself. We'll have to rely on other online reviews for personal testimonies.
Most of the online reviews I read that mentioned allergies said that it did help improve breathing issues. And several said that it helped with odors, although a few said it didn't do anything.
Verdict: May Be Worth a Try
If keeping costs at a minimum is the most important factor in your choice of an air purifier, then the Vista 200 might be the one for you.
It's one of the lowest priced air purifiers around, and the replacement filters don't cost much, either. And, you probably won't notice a change in your electric bill.
My biggest concerns are the lack of a CADR rating, the low CFM numbers, and the fact that we don't know the number of air changes per hour. I have a suspicion that the number is low.
Because it's inexpensive and it has a one year warranty, it might be worthwhile to give the Vista 200 a try for mild indoor air problems.
However, if you have serious problems with allergies or asthma, I would suggest you skip over this one. Instead, invest in a higher quality air purifier with a proven record and CADR rating to back it up - like the Honeywell HPA300 (read my review).
Think the Levoit Vista 200 might be a good fit for you, anyway?
Click here to read the reviews and check the current price at Amazon.
Want to check out some other brands? Please see Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Home and Office.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free Levoit Vista 200 air purifier in return for my honest review. I have not - nor will I - receive monetary compensation from Levoit for this review. All opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the manufacturer and/or its affiliates, in any way.
Last Updated on April 8, 2022
