Questions, answered honestly
Everything we get asked most, from choosing the right purifier to delivery, filters and warranty. If you can't find it here, our Product Support page covers model-specific setup and care in detail.
Choosing the right purifier
The main thing to get right is matching the unit's clean air output (CADR) to your room. Filter grade and noise come second, once that's sorted.
Work out the CADR you need
Will an air purifier help with my allergies, asthma or hayfever?
A HEPA purifier running in the room you spend the most time in (the bedroom overnight is the big one) can reduce airborne triggers like dust, pollen and pet dander, and a lot of people notice less morning congestion once they've been running one consistently.
Everyone's sensitivities are different though, so we can't promise it'll fix things outright. It reduces triggers, it isn't a cure. Have a read of our allergies page for more, or get in touch and we'll help work out the right model for your space.
Do your purifiers use ionisers or release ozone?
No, and it's a deliberate choice. Ionisers and ozone generators are sometimes used to inflate CADR figures, which we see as misleading, and there are real risks for people with respiratory issues, babies and the elderly. Every purifier in our range is a simple fan and filter, nothing else.
Are your purifiers noisy?
It depends on the model and the speed it's running at. Across the range, top speed sits between 42 and 52 dB. Most people don't run their purifier flat out day to day though, and several models are genuinely quiet on a lower speed, the SA600 on Speed 1 is just 16 dB, quieter than a whisper.
For exact noise figures by model and speed, head to our Product Support page and select your model.
What's the difference between our filter grades, and why isn't everything H13?
HEPA grades describe how much a filter captures per pass at the hardest particle size to trap (around 0.3 microns). E11/H11 sits around 95%, H12 around 99.5%, and H13 climbs to 99.97%. All of them handle the particles people actually care about, dust, pollen and pet dander, very effectively, since those are much larger than the test size.
The Sqair uses H12, while the SA600, Blast Mini and Blast use H13. That's not the Sqair missing out, it's a deliberate trade-off. A higher grade filters slightly finer per pass, but it also restricts airflow more, and a unit moving more air through a solid H12 filter often cleans a room faster overall than a smaller H13 unit struggling for airflow. We'd rather pick the right CADR for your room than chase a grade for its own sake.
We go into this properly in Do You Need an H13 HEPA Filter in Your Air Purifier?
How much does it cost to run one?
Very little. These are simple, low-power units, the SA600 runs from 3 W on its lowest speed up to 60 W on full, the Sqair from 6 W to 38 W, and the SA700 sits at a steady 12 W. Even running 24/7, most models work out to well under $30 a year.
What a purifier does well
- Airborne dust, pollen and pet dander
- Mould spores and fine particles in the air
- Cigarette, cooking and woodfire smoke
- VOCs and odours, with a carbon filter
- Reducing virus particle concentration in a room
What a purifier cannot do
- Lower CO2 levels, that needs fresh air ventilation
- Fix a mould or damp source in walls or ceilings
- Remove dust mites from mattresses or bedding
- Eliminate strong embedded smells instantly
- Guarantee to resolve a specific medical condition
CO2 monitor FAQs
A CO2 monitor does a different job to a purifier. Here's where it fits in.
Why would I want a CO2 monitor?
A CO2 monitor doesn't clean your air, it tells you when a room needs fresh air. CO2 builds up indoors from your own breathing in any closed room, and rising CO2 is a good proxy for stuffy, poorly ventilated air. It's the simplest way to know when to crack a window rather than guessing.
Can a CO2 monitor replace an air purifier?
No, they do different jobs. A purifier filters airborne particles like dust, pollen and smoke. A CO2 monitor tells you about ventilation, when fresh air needs to come in. Most homes get more benefit from both: a purifier for particles, a CO2 monitor as a simple ventilation signal. Our purifiers don't lower CO2 either, only opening a window or door does that.
What does the Smart Air CO2 Monitor offer?
It measures CO2, temperature and humidity, connects over Wi-Fi, and runs for around 30 days on a charge. It's wall-mountable if you want it fixed in one spot, or you can simply stand it on a shelf or desk and move it as needed.
Have a look at the Smart Air CO2 Monitor for full specs.
Can I move it from room to room?
Yes, it's portable even though it can also mount to a wall. Plenty of customers move it between rooms, or take it to work, to get a read on different spaces.
How accurate is it?
It uses a genuine NDIR CO2 sensor, the same type used in the higher-end monitors on the market. Independent testing site BreatheSafeAir compared it directly against the Aranet4 Home, generally considered the benchmark consumer CO2 monitor, and found readings stayed within a similar range across low, medium and high CO2 levels.
Orders, payment & delivery
How long does delivery take?
South Island orders, and smaller North Island orders like the CO2 monitor or filters, usually arrive overnight. Larger North Island orders (the purifiers) typically take 2 business days, excluding rural and the Blast and Blast Mini, which take a little longer given they go by freight. Orders placed before 1:30pm usually dispatch the same business day, though this isn't guaranteed, and rural addresses can add an extra day or two on top.
How can I track my order?
Once your order ships, you'll get a tracking number by email, which you can use to follow it the rest of the way.
Why does the Blast or Blast Mini take longer to arrive?
These two are too large to go by courier, so they travel by freight instead. That means a little more time to pallet and wrap them before dispatch, and freight transit is usually a day or two longer than courier.
Want it delivered without a pallet, and carried into your home? We can arrange this through Mainfreight's 2Home service for an extra cost, just get in touch for a price.
Can you deliver to PO boxes or parcel lockers?
Unfortunately not, we don't use NZ Post for delivery. Please give us an alternative street address.
Can I collect my order from Christchurch?
Yes. Choose the pickup in store option at checkout and you'll be shown the warehouse address in Hornby. Orders are usually ready from the next business day, for collection between 10am and 3pm.
Can I pay by bank transfer?
Yes, just get in touch with what you'd like to order, your delivery and billing address (if different), and a phone number. We'll send an invoice with payment details and ship once it's been paid.
I forgot to enter a discount code, or missed a sale, can you help?
If a code or sale was live when you ordered, let us know and we'll refund the difference, no fuss.
Can I change my order or delivery address after placing it?
Often yes, but please get in touch as soon as possible, email is quickest. Our fulfilment process is largely automated, so the sooner you reach out, the better the chance we can catch it before dispatch.
Do you ship internationally?
Unfortunately not, we only sell and ship within New Zealand.
What if my order arrives damaged or something's missing?
First check the packaging carefully, orders are sometimes combined into one box. If something's still missing or damaged, email us at hello@snapair.co.nz with your order number and we'll get it sorted.
After your purchase
Setup, placement, filter care and troubleshooting all have detailed, model-specific guidance on our Product Support page. A few of the most common questions below, then the link if you need more.
How do I know when to replace my filter?
The visual check beats any countdown timer. White to light grey still has plenty of life left, medium to dark grey is working hard but fine, dark grey or black all over means it's time to swap it out.
Full detail and model-by-model guidance is on our Product Support page.
My filter light came on, do I need to replace it straight away?
Not necessarily, the light is a timer, not a sensor. Do the visual check first, if the filter still looks mostly grey it likely has life left, and the light can be reset. Steps for your specific model are on the Product Support page.
My purifier doesn't seem to be making a difference, what should I check?
Start with the plastic wrap, it's the single biggest cause of "it's not working" and easy to miss, especially on the SA600 which has two filters. After that, placement and fan speed both matter more than people expect.
Full troubleshooting steps are on our Product Support page.
Need setup help for your model?
Select your purifier on our Product Support page for placement, first-time setup, daily use and filter care guidance specific to it.
Warranty & returns
Do your purifiers come with a warranty?
Yes, every Smart Air purifier comes with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty, and they're also covered under New Zealand's Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. The design is simple, a fan and a filter with no chips or sensors to fail, so in practice they've proven to be extremely reliable.
Can I return my purifier if I change my mind?
Yes, we offer a 14-day change of mind return as long as the item is unused and in its original packaging. See our Returns & Exchanges Policy for the full detail.
What happens if my unit develops a fault?
Get in touch with your order number and a description of what's happening, and we'll work out the right fix together, whether that's a replacement, repair or refund under warranty.
Can't find your question?
Send us a message below and we'll get back to you. We read every one ourselves.
