Burtran Nano-Oxy Smart Air Purifier: Safe Sleep?

I am happy to report that Portrane’s claim was correct, as its operation did not result in a spike in radioactivity. My entire apartment was measuring around 20 clicks per minute, or CPM — for context, 5-50 CPM is the normal background. When the number reaches more than 2,000, the GQ GMC Geiger Nuclear Radiation Safety Manual says you should evacuate and report it to the government.

Photo: Lisa Wood Shapiro

Filter persistence

Portran also claims that thanks to enhanced HEPA 14 filters, the Nano-Oxy “captures 99.995 percent of ultra-fine particles down to 0.1 microns, exceeding HEPA 13 efficiency by up to 90 percent.”

HEPA is an abbreviation for “high-efficiency particulate air.” The number following 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 certain types of particles.”

However, there’s a problem with all this density: On some machines, MERV 14 can restrict airflow. For example, DIY air purifiers like the Corsi-Rosenthal Box recommend MERV 13 filters, not MERV 14. Air flows freely outside the Nano-Oxy, so I couldn’t confirm if that was the case with this particular device. There is an indicator light that alerts you when the filter needs to be replaced; The dirtier the air, the sooner the filter will need to be changed. Replacement filters cost about $100.

To sleep mode or not to sleep mode

Portran Dashboard via Lisa Wood-Shapiro

The Burtran Nano-Oxy packs a big punch in its foot-and-a-half body. Weighing 17.5 pounds, it’s easy to move with two side handles, but it can effectively clean the air five times per hour in a 270-square-foot room. I usually see this kind of room cleaning power from larger devices. It also has an activated carbon filter to capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a pre-filter to capture larger particles like pet hair. The front metal grille can be easily removed 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 of airflow direction from the top of the machine. Burtran works with the Smart Life app, which has one of the easiest dashboards to use and pair.

I will always recommend using the automatic setting, as the air sensor built into the air purifier knows when to adjust the fan speed; This can be a problem for bedroom air purifiers, as the highest setting causes the most noise. For this reason, most air purifiers have a sleep mode option.