After our last post on the TruSens Z-1000 Review, here is our take on TruSens’ flagship Z-3000 model. TruSens is owned by ACCO Brands Corp, a big name in North America. They also make office and home products and have now forayed into making air purifiers. But their other products include things like locks and markers. This is something vastly different from an air purifier. Not only is it a whole new industry, but it also focuses on a different user group altogether. So, how good is the TruSens Z-3000 air purifier? Is it prodigal to invest in it over its other 2 smaller models? Well, this TruSens Z3000 Review is here to tell you all that and more. I’d say the Z-3000 model is the most complete and optimum air purifier if compared with the other two smaller ones. Despite having impressed me with its all-round qualities, not sure why it has not been able to become a top seller!
TruSens Z 3000 has a couple such features which catapult it into the big league. Regal looks of this air purifier is its greatest USP. Trust my word, it shall add to the aesthetics of the room you place it in. It has a low footprint design, and light weight even then comes with a comfortable handle. As for the air circulation, its strong fan churns up a large air mass. Most importantly, Dupont-made composite filter drum with Pre-filter, HEPA and carbon filters effectively eliminate all types of air pollutants.
TRUSENS Z-3000 REVIEW
We’ve looked at every small aspect of the TruSens Z-3000 air purifier. From the touch buttons on its control panel to the noise level at each fan mode. We’re dedicated to providing unbiased reviews. TruSens air purifiers use a unique air outflow designing that it claims removes any air dead zones in the room. It also uses an UV bulb to kill germs and prevent their recycling through the rooms. The device uses an axial-centrifugal fan which draws air from all directions. The fan speed is at least two times what is seen in TruSens Z-2000 model. In this TruSens Z-3000 review, as always we have discussed its features individually.
PRICE – TRUSENS Z-3000 AIR PURIFIER
The TruSens Air Purifier Z3000 can cover up to 70 Sq.m. or 750 sq.ft. which is way more than the Z-1000. In fact, the Z-1000 model could just cover 23 Sq.m. Overall, Z-3000 is such an air purifier which no one can ignore. Be it the sophistication in looks, unconventionally tilted console or its air quality monitor pod, Z-3000 stands out in a crowd. Over the simple Z-1000 model, you’ll have to shell out close to $250 extra to own it. The filter replacement also costs $59 for a standard drum filter. ACCO Brands has produced a star product especially in the looks department. Its range of specialty filters like Allergy & Flu filter, Pet filter and Odor & VOC filter are of top notch quality.
I can find an uncanny similarity between Z-3000’s price and even the looks of the Levoit LV-H134 Air Purifier. Both the air purifiers are their companies’ flagship models. In terms of features and coverage area both are evenly matched. However, Levoit wins in terms of the ACH nearing around 3.3 for around 700 ft² area. Compare this with TruSens Z-3000 which has an ACH = 2 for the given area. However, at the Turbo fan speed, I cannot think TruSens Z-3000 can lag behind any air purifier in terms of air movement.
DESIGN AND LOOKS
Clearly, each TruSens Air Purifier has a distinct design. This design has also won them the ‘Red Dot Award for Product Design’ in 2019. The air purifier is a thorough cylindrical device with a uniform cross-section. But the top portion is angled at 45° from horizontal. This design is getting more and more popular as it makes for easy visibility if the controls. Its easier for the user to see the control panel and also access the buttons. For some this may become a nuisance if the night mode is absent. But, not to be in Z-3000 as the LEDs can be turned OFF in dark for a distraction-free sleep.
READ MORE: BEST AIR PURIFIER FOR ALLERGIES
As for the air purifier placement, you can place it anywhere in the room. No hard and fast placement rules. This is because there is a 360° air intake through the mesh from all directions. A semi-circular screen lined with color LEDs to show air quality adores the control panel. It uses the guidelines set by the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report its display ratings. Design-wise, it is similar to the TruSens Z-2000 series without any changes expect for the size and coverage area.
The top air vent is divided into 2 parts that share the air flow as 30% – 70%. TruSens says this helps in more efficient circulation. This TruSens Z-3000 review is going to be a long one, so stay tuned!
SMART SENSING
This Sensor Pod was introduced in the Z-2000 model and has become a fixture in this series. Which is good to see, because of its usefulness! Usually, other products come with a dust sensor housed inside the air purifier. This restrict them to be able to only sense the air quality in the immediate vicinity of the filter. The polluted air from across the room will not be picked up. But here, the SensorPod is a separately powered device which can be placed in direct line of sight distance of upto 15 meters!
Thus, you can place it at the other end of the room from the purifier. It will communicate with the filter and feed info about the air quality there. Hence, you can be assured that the air purifier will detect a change in air quality directly around you because the SensorPod is nearby. Then, in Auto Mode, the fan speed of the filter will arranged itself as needed. It uses a particle sensor to detect the AQI and comes with a plug.
Unboxing The TruSens Z-3000 Air Purifier
TruSens air purifiers come in sturdy packaging to keep the unit safe from impacts in transportation. I received my TruSens Z-3000 unit in perfect condition. The unit is wrapped in a plastic sheet. The filter is also covered in plastic and is inside the air purifier only.
Inside The Box
- TruSens Z-3000 Air Purifier
- One power cable (6 feet)
- One SensorPod
- Adapter for SensorPod
- TruSens Standard HEPA/Carbon composite filter drum, the UV bulb comes already installed.
- User Manual
DIMENSIONS
The TruSens Air Purifier Z3000 weighs just 6 Kgs which is light for an air purifier of this coverage. For an air purifier of this coverage area it can be called a feather-weight champion! Still, it has a carry handle which blends elegantly into the design. The body is all white with the mesh being colored in silver color. Overall, the air purifier is made from high quality plastic and looks ravishing.
The air purifier dimensions are as follows-
263 x 263 x 726 mm
So you see how tall the air purifier is but at the same time taking little floor area. It is best placed on the floor, and slightly away from the wall behind it. The seller has offered 2 years of warranty on it.
COVERAGE AREA & ACH
This model is certainly a huge upgrade when it comes to the amount of floor area covered. It can be used to clean the air of rooms that are 70 sq.m. or 750 sq.ft.! in area. This is the upper range of area that very few air purifiers satisfy. This even makes it useful for small offices. The bigger an air purifier you use, the more the number of Air Changed per Hour (ACH) it would be able to achieve. TruSens Z-3000 air purifier makes two air changes in an hour (ACH=2) when used in 750 sq.ft. rooms. Use it for rooms measuring close to 400 sq.ft. and it can give you an ACH=4 which is perfect!
The CADR of the purifier is 200 cfm. This is slightly on the lesser side if the purifier is used for large 750 sq.ft. rooms. Are you one of those users who seek innovative features and good technology? Then trust me, TruSens’ SensorPod and AQI are its highly useful and key selling points. ACH would not matter as much.
TRUSENS Z-3000 FILTERS
The 4 stages of air filtration cum sterilization has to produce great results. In most cases, within 20 minutes of use, the LED indicator would transition to blue color denoting pure air. TruSens Filters are manufactured by DuPont, the world leader in Chemicals and the inventor of Nylon. A standard filter drum is made up of the following layers.
1.) Pre-Filter
This is the first and washable filter component that prevent larger dust particles from getting into the system. It catches things like hair, pet dander, lint, and sand. TruSens suggests that this filter be cleaned once a month to keep the product running at top rate.
2.) Core True HEPA Filter
The major filter used is a True HEPA filter. It can be removed from the circular base of the purifier. This filter can remove 99.97% efficiency of airborne particles which has a diameter of 0.3 microns and more. You can rest assured this purifier will remove all pollen, allergens and dust.
3.) Activated Carbon Filter
As advertised in every TruSens Z-3000 Review, this product uses an activated carbon filter from DuPont. DuPont is an old and established company known firstly for their chemical manufacturing and later on, for their other industry items. The DuPont filter uses an impregnated carbon sheet that can remove any odor, VOCs, formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. For better performance against odors and VOCs, real carbon pellets laden Specialty Filters are available to be purchased separately.
4.) UV Sterilization
This is the final stage of filtration. Here, a UV light bulb is used to fill any germs and bacteria from the filter surface. This filter can be switched on and off by using a button on the control panel. Since this involves ultraviolet light, not everyone feels safe using them. It is nice of TruSens to create it as an option. The UV bulb is not visible to directly to pose any risk to the eyes or skin. It has an average life of 2 to 3 years.
I felt the strong need and utility of the UV lamp when I contacted COVID infection. It was winters and hence needed to keep doors and windows mostly closed. Really, wanted a mechanism to sterilize the indoor air in absence of ventilation.
Read More: TruSens Z-2000 Review
FILTER REPLACEMENT COST
The filters have a standard life of 12 to 15 months as stated on the website. And note that you are not gonna use it continually round the year. Rainy season or spring has better air quality. So, the filters would actually last even longer. This is longer than standard filter shelf life. However, there is an indicator light for when the filters need to be replaced, so you need not worry about this. 3 separate indicators are present for each filter. One noticeable thing is that an adhesive keeps the pre-filter in place. So replacing it can be a time consuming process. You might want to consult a service executive the first time you do it.
CONTROL PANEL
The control panel is back-lit and present on the oblique top portion. When put in sleep mode, the LED back-light dims down. It seems that TruSens has kept in the mind the needs of light sleepers. There is also a timer feature present. All buttons are touch activated. Where else would you find such a detailed TruSens Z-3000 Review!
- LED DISPLAY – This shows the current AQI and also whether the purifier is connected to WiFi or not. The display is circular and has a LED ring running around it. This ring changes color depending on the AQI. For bad air quality, it turns red. For medium and good air quality, it turns amber and blue respectively.
BUTTONS:
- ON/OFF – This button needs no introduction and is there to turn ON/ OFF the air purifier.
- FAN SPEED – Perhaps the second most used button after the Power button. This button lets you adjust the fan speed to anything from Auto mode, or other levels. AUTO mode is available only when you let the SensorPod pair with the air purifier.
- DIMMER – Using this setting you can put off all the illuminations on the console. You may want to do this while sleeping. Choosing the Dimmer does not affect the normal working of the air purifier. To turn all display lights ON, just press this button again.
- TIMER – Using this users can set up a timer. A user can choose between 2, 4, 8 and 12-hour options. To cancel the timer simply keep pressing the button until none shows.
- UV – This button activates the UV lamp/bulb, which is optional.
- RESET – When you’ve replaced the filters or the UV bulb you need to press this reset button.
FAN AND TIMER
TruSens Z-3000 air purifier’s air flow is slightly different from other filters that use a regular horizontal or circular top vent. PureDirect proprietary technology allows TruSens to send out two different air streams, which helps the air circulate more effectively. This method is proven to be 24% more efficient than the conventional designs.
You can select the fan to run in 5 different speeds. Again, this is an upgrade over most models that can run 3 different modes. The timer can be set up for 2, 4, 8 or 12 hours. A single button takes care of this.
NOISE LEVEL
I analyzed the noise that TruSens Z-3000 air purifier makes on different fan speeds. On most of the fan speeds, the filter runs quietly. In the lowest mode or the Whisper Mode, one can barely notice the sound generated. It is around 30 dB which is close to silence. At Speed 1 you can hardly hear the fan. I recorded 51.5 dB noise level on Fan speed 2 and 61.5 dB at fan speed 3. However, at top speed i.e. in Turbo mode, the sound produced is over 60 decibels. This is quite loud and definitely not bearable while sleeping. Even compared to other products that have a range of 50-55 decibels, the top speed can be classified as noisy. Hope you liked this thorough and scientifically done noise analysis!
ADDITIONAL INFO
The Z-3000 consumes 68 W of power. This is higher than in other market brands. But do remember, that the filter can cover up to 750 sq. ft. of floor area. The Auto mode will also help users save electricity by adjusting fan speed and power consumption accordingly. It is an Energy Star certified product since the power consumed is quite reasonable for its capacity. The Sensor Pod can be used from a distance of up to 49 feet. This is enough to cover the diagonal width of residential rooms. It is advisable to keep the path between the two free of obstacles or walls.
TruSens Z-1000 Vs Z-3000
Although this post is a TruSens Z-3000 review, ;et me list out the differences between the Top and Introductory TruSens models.
1. SensorPod
Doing a TruSens Z1000 vs Z3000 comparison yields a couple of new features. Let me introduce a cool new thing which Z-3000 and even Z-2000 has. This is in the form of a device called ‘SensorPod’. This is a small air quality monitor that you can place away from the air purifier but where it gets power. Have you seen or used air purifier with real-time PM2.5 display? If yes, then where is the sensor located? Its in the air purifier’s body itself right! Now, this is how the SensorPod works differently. The idea is that an air quality sensor measuring PM2.5 reading away from the main air purifier body would be more accurate. Moreover, the air purifier works in sync with the feedback that the SensorPod sends back to the device. If in the area away from the air purifier the air is unhealthy, the air purifier ramps up its fan speed to make it better.
2. Fan Speed & Pre-Filter
Compared to Z-1000 which has just 3 different fan speeds, Z-3000 has 5 levels. This gives you more control over the air purifier’s working. Another difference between TruSens Z1000 and Z3000 lies in the presence of a dedicated Pre-filter. While Z-1000 didn’t have a separate pre-filter, Z-3000 has it and that too washable (a norm). A 3-stage filtration process followed by a sterilization of the filters through a UV-C lamp is enough to snatch the air of all its pollutants. If doubts about ozone contamination cloud your mind then just know that the UV lamp is independently operable. If you are too skeptical about it, just keep the lamp always OFF although it is certified by California Air Resources Board (CARB).
3. Night Mode/Dimmer & Auto Mode
TruSens Z-1000 didn’t have any sort of air quality display LEDs, hence the Night mode was absent too. Here, in TruSens Z3000 vs Z1000, a night mode and an Auto mode are present in the flagship model.
We have seen some users complaining about the touch screen buttons. While there is no issue with the buttons, but the writing on top seems to smudge very easily. What can we say for this issue, not a very big deal according to me. Within this price range, this is a great product that satisfies all criteria.
CONCLUSION – TruSens Z-3000 Review
Overall, the TruSens Z-3000 is a very good air purifier. It performs exceedingly well in cleansing the air of medium to large rooms. Things like the SensorPod are outcomes of innovation. The way TruSens have provided an optional UV Bulb is also a novelty. In times when the world is reeling with virus scare, the UV sterilization is a useful feature. Its optional to turn it ON/OFF and this induces confidence as one may not want it ON all the time. It shows TruSens cares about the health of the users in the ‘True Sense’ of the term. In the long term, this is a great investment.
Your TruSens air purifier Z3000 would need Filter replacements after a good length of time. The best part of the product is the long lasting HEPA filter. Unlike regular filters, it can last for 12 to 15 months! This is 1.5 times what regular filters can last. If you live in a place with less pollution, it could last even longer!
Indeed, the futuristic design certainly sets it apart. It even has a handle to move it easily and is nicely crafted to fit into the overall design. It is heartening to see TruSens add such convenience features getting into the skin of a real user. With this I conclude this TruSens Z-3000 air purifier review. Please do let me know what you think about it with your comments!
