Overview
I’ll start by saying that in this air purifier review sharp FP-P40CX that I really like the filters in it, and the technology. Plus the initial cost is very reasonable. My primary complaints are the replacement filter costs are very high, the Warranty is short (1 year) and the square footage is a bit low. But if you are looking for a good mid-sized bedroom air purifier for allergies keep reading.
Purchased all over the world the Sharp FP-P40CX is one of several sharp plasmacluster air purifiers which were first introduced in 2001. They have sold over 22 million according to their website. It’s made in China where 99% of all air purifiers today are made but were designed in Japan. Japan fell in love with this model during the SARS scare.
Unlike the FPP models many of the newer Plasmacluster air purifiers (which include the KC model line – KC-C70U, KCC100U, and C150U) now include built in humidifiers in which you add water to a small reservoir. I still own a Plasmacluster Sharo FP-P60CX which is being discontinued in favor of the smaller FP-P40CX (the primary difference the Sharp FP-P60CX covers more square footage.)
Air Purifier Review – Sharp FP-P40CX
Stages of Purification
Now let’s take a look at the filters and technology for cleaning the air. The Sharp FP-P40CX air purifier has 4-5 stages
Stage 1 HEPA. Although a bit pricey when it comes time to replace it this good sized HEPA does a good job of holding dust and pollen.
Stage 2 Carbon – A good sized 12 OZ bag with several carbon pockets it removes gas, odors and smoke. (very pricey to replace @ 70).
Stage 3 Pre-Filter – This washable filter is like a screen door, catching hair and dust which extends the life of the HEPA filter. While Sharp suggests you can vacuum the HEPA on occasion make sure you vacuum it “thorough” the pre-filter.
Stage 4 Positive and negative ions. The unique “Plasmacluster” technology allows you to alternate between health negative ions, positive ions which can destroy some germs, or both. A nice option.
FPP40CX – It’s A Small Room Air Purifier
Because it only covers 232 square feet the Sharp is more of a small room air purifier. On high speed it gets a bit noisy, and the machine shakes a bit side to side (smoothly mind you, but it does move). On low it is very quiet, but does not move a lot of air. The trade off for low energy usage and quieter fan (than the 60CX) explains the smaller square footage.
It has a “pollen feature” but to be honest I don’t get it – it just seems to alternate the fan speed. I can only figure that it “sounded good” in the marketing department. While it is very quiet in the low speed mode (4 speeds) it doesn’t emit enough air at that speed to do much of anything. The carbon filter is said to be washable, however getting water inside an air purifier (and carbon retains chlorine from the water) may not be the best idea. The carbon filter has bags of carbon which, while a good weight to the carbon means it will absorb more gas than most purifiers, have large gaps above and below the bags.
Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s
1 – Well Made
2 – Quieter than most air purifiers
3 – Includes HEPA and a good Carbon filtration
4 – Nice “human-friendly” design. Has an on/off button for night time sleeping, and variable remote controls.
Con’s
1 – Short 1 year parts and labor warranty
2 – Very Expensive (but good) filter replacements
3 – A bit pricey, but a good value
4 – The yearly operating costs are high. While it is very energy efficient the replacement carbon and HEPa can set you back 180 (Wasn’t that close to the cost of the machine to begin with?)
5 – The low speed is very quiet (17Db) but also completely useless as it moves no air.
6 – A bit noisy on high
Specifications and Technologies
Sharp FPP40CX
Retail Price:
Purification Technologies: 5
Square Footage: 253 SQ. Ft.
Replacement Filter Costs: 189
Yearly Costs: 150
Decibel Level: 17/
Pros – Good for
Cons- Not good for
Warranty – 1 Year
Number of Speeds – 3 -Silent, Med, and Max
Filters –
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) certified Clean Air Delivery Rates (CADR) for the Sharp FP-P40CX shows as follows:
dust 157
smoke 163
pollen 156
Air Purifier Rating
1. Technologies Included: (out of of 10 technologies) 5
2. Particle Removal (Allergens, Dust) 9
3. Immune System Threats (Germs, Virus, etc.) 8
4. Gas Removal (Odor, Chemicals, Smoke) 7
5. Longevity/Quality 7
6. Noise Levels 6
7. Ease of Use 4
8. Warranty 2
9. Customer Service/Reputation (reviews) 7
10. Price Value 9
Score: 64= Excellent
Conclusion
In this air purifier review the Sharp FP-P40CX is definitely one of my top 10. It has better-than-average carbon filtration and HEPA size. While you may end up paying more for the initial cost (and too much for the replacement filters) than you will for a Honeywell, Oreck, or similar models you’re money will be better spent getting something with much greater filtration.
It’s a durable model, relatively quiet, and has nice features like an on/off control for the lights (You’ll know how important that is when you try and sleep a night with an air purifier light on). With a list price of 299.99 current prices online run from 250 to 260 delivered. The Warranty is only 1 year parts and labor – which was a bit of a head-scratcher for me. Why would Sharp have such a limited warranty? However I have found that the one I own has been dependable over several years.
If you have allergies and want a good small room air purifier it may be a good choice.