I’m happy to report that Burtran’s claim was correct—its operation did not result in a spike of radioactivity. My entire apartment was measuring around 20 clicks per minute, or CPM—for context, 5-50 CPM is normal background. It’s when the number hits over 2,000 that the GQ GMC Geiger Counter Nuclear Radiation Safety Guide says to evacuate and report it to the government.
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Filter Fortitude
Burtran also claims that, with its beefed-up HEPA 14 filters, the Nano-Oxy “captures 99.995 percent of ultra-fine particles down to 0.1 micron, surpassing HEPA 13 efficiency by up to 90 percent.”
HEPA is an acronym for “high-efficiency particulate air.” The number that follows HEPA is the MERV rating, or minimum efficiency reporting value, which measures a filter’s ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. As the EPA explains, “The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.”
There’s a catch to all that density, though—in certain appliances, MERV 14 can restrict airflow. For example, DIY air purifiers like the Corsi-Rosenthal Box recommend MERV 13 filters, not MERV 14. The air flowed freely out of the Nano-Oxy, so I wasn’t able to confirm if this was the case with this particular machine. There is an indicator light that alerts when the filter needs to be replaced; the dirtier the air, the sooner the filter will need to be changed. Replacement filters cost around $100.
To Sleep Mode or Not to Sleep Mode
Burtran Dashboard via Lisa Wood Shapiro
The Burtran Nano-Oxy packs a large punch in its foot-and-a-half by foot-and-a-half body. At 17.5 pounds, it’s easy to move with its two side handles, but it can effectively clean the air the recommended five times an hour in a 270-square-foot room. I usually see that kind of room-cleaning power from larger appliances. It also has an activated carbon filter to capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a prefilter to capture larger particles like pet hair. The front metal mesh comes off easily to access the filters. The control panel has a timer, fan speed, auto and sleep modes, and three degree angles—30, 60, and 90—that control the three slats for airflow direction from the top of the appliance. The Burtran works with the Smart Life app, which has one of the easiest dashboards to use and pair.
I will always recommend using the auto setting, as an air purifier’s built-in air sensor knows when to adjust the fan speed; this can be an issue for air purifiers in the bedroom, as the highest setting creates the most noise. It is that reason, noise, that most air purifiers have a sleep mode option.
