My Unsponsored Review of the Jaspr (Low-Plastic!) Air Filter

To filter or not to filter, that is the question.

I live in Chicago. I’m pretty used to urban air quality and the stubborn sustainable silliness in me wouldn’t consider getting an air filter for a long time. Disposable filters! More electric devices! 

But did you know indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality? 

I have allergies and I live with my allergens (cats). I know how a bad allergy day can feel like having the flu.

On top of our fluffy friends, our homes are full of furniture, paint, perfume, cleaning supplies, candles, laundry detergent, dish soap, dust, dander, pollen, and all kinds of other things. 

(Yes, I’ve switched to non-toxic versions of many of those things, but some of them are unavoidable!)

Indoor air is more concentrated than outdoor air and there is less circulation. So all of those particles from our furniture, cleaning supplies, etc., just kind of get “stuck” in our homes, where we breathe them in. (This is in part because of the way homes are built for energy efficiency nowadays. While this may reduce energy costs and carbon footprints, it can actually decrease indoor air quality.)

Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution can be really bad for our health, contributing to everything from heart disease and cognitive deficits, to cancer.

And it probably goes without saying that it’s even worse for people with lung disease or other underlying chronic conditions (which are becoming increasing common).

So, given that I spent 97% of my time indoors (honestly, it’s a problem), I felt it was time to look at air filters from a different lens: my health. Although I have been hesitant to get an air filter in the past because of the sustainability & waste factors, I realize that investing in my longterm health is actually a matter of sustainability, too!

That’s why I was excited to give Jaspr a try. Not only is it the real deal when it comes to filtering capabilities (unlike a lot of the other filters you can grab at big box stores), but it’s also very low plastic—so it fits better within the sustainable lifestyle that I prefer.

After several months of using a Jaspr air purifier, below are my 100% real, honest thoughts. 

P.S. If you’re comparing air filters, don’t forget to check out Abbie’s AirDoctor review after using it for 3+ years!

This review is not sponsored, but the filter was gifted so that I could try it (thank you!). We may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

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Let’s get right to it: do I like Jaspr Air Filter? 

The short answer is: yes! I really like the Jaspr filter for a variety of reasons, which I’ll get more into in a moment.

What I love & don’t love about Jaspr

Cons for Jaspr

After using Jaspr, I honestly don’t have that many cons. The things I dislike the most are just the cost and the fact that the filters are disposable (which is pretty normal).

• Cost 

Jaspr is not a budget option, and this is one of the only things that would make me hesitant to recommend it to friends and family.

It’s on the more expensive end ($1,200 before discounts), with replacement filters running at $199-299 (depending on if you’re signed up for a subscription or not). 

However, I will say that this is still in the general range of the other top-notch filters on the market, like IQAir or AirPura. AirDoctor is really the only other filter on the market that can compete in terms of effectiveness but has a more affordable price point. (However, the body is made of plastic.)

• Disposable filters 

I don’t love that the filters are disposable, but this is going to be a problem with pretty much any air filter. While some air filters advertise themselves as “washable,” it’s usually either:

• Just the pre-filter part that you can rinse or vacuum
• Or if the main part of the filter itself claims to be washable, it’s actually just not a very good filter. As far as I can tell, there’s currently no such thing as a washable HEPA filter. (And a HEPA filter is what you want for adequate filtration—more on that below!)

Now, I did ask Jaspr for some more info about the filter’s materials and potential recyclability, and I’ll talk about that more in a minute.

Pros for Jaspr

It’s got a lot more pros than cons! 👉

• Easy to move, lightweight, and compact

Moving the Jaspr is so easy because it’s lightweight without feeling unstable. We live in a small one bedroom apartment, so when people come to visit we need to move it around a bit so everything can fit. This also makes it great for moving into the bedroom when someone is sick, the kitchen when someone burns something, etc.

• Covers a large square footage (1,000 square feet with an 8-foot ceiling)

I love this! Many filters only cover 300-500 square feet which means you need to buy one for every room. That’s wild! One Jaspr more than covers the square foot of my home. This is a pro both for longterm cost and sustainability (less waste overall).

• Easy to setup and change the filters

I really liked that Jaspr sent me an install video a few days before it arrived. Other than that, installation was super easy.

The only question I had to separately look up was whether Jaspr needed its own outlet or if it could share (answer: it can share). 

• Filters only need to be changed every 6 months

There are brands that require you to change the filters every 45-90 days! I like that Jaspr is only 6 months, especially with how expensive it is. 

• Low plastic

This is a major selling point for me. Many air filters on the market are made with plastic bodies. The Jaspr, however, is made of steel, which means it’s more durable and recyclable. I’m happy for any opportunity to bring less plastic into my home!

• Easy to read digital screen with real-time particle visuals

I really LOVE the digital screen. My previous air filter (which my husband bought from Amazon and wasn’t anything special) didn’t have one so I was always confused and concerned when it would turn on. Without a digital screen, my first thought was always that it was going to explode (it never did).

I like that I can see how high the particulates are depending on what I’m doing, and then I can watch it go back down as the filter does its magic.

• Night mode setting for anyone sensitive to light

I LOVE the night mode. When I first turned on Jaspr I thought I wouldn’t need the night mode. That night, I woke up in the middle of the night freaked out as to why the living room was glowing! It took me a solid 30 seconds to work up the nerve to go out there before I remembered it was Jaspr. Needless to say, night mode is on now. 

• There are options to adjust the fan speed or set it to auto

I always have it set to auto but I like that you have some level of control over the fan speed. There’s even a turbo option!

One thing I was really impressed with was when I burned a stick of incense (across the house!), the Jaspr not only turned on, it immediately went to the red zone and it stayed there until the incense burned out.

• Quiet when running

This is another huge difference I noted from our old filter. Jaspr is so quiet even when it’s in the red zone (aka filtering stronger). Our old air filter would randomly turn on and not only was it loud, but it also made me concerned about how much energy it was using, if it was running correctly, and a bunch of other things because there was no digital display. 

• The design is sleek and fits in easily in multiple places

The design is very cute and sleek. It’s tall and skinny enough that one of the cats won’t try to jump on it. I also don’t have to bend down or contort my body to read the screen or adjust the settings either. 

A lot of the other low-plastic air filters on the market are pretty bulky, so they’re not great for small living spaces like mine. I really like how compact the Jaspr is and how it doesn’t take up very much space in my small apartment.

I also absolutely love that Jaspr can be placed (and looks nice) in the corner!

• 3-in-1 filter & steel cage

I think the 3-in-1 filter is a nice touch. There is only ONE filter to change. I don’t want to be responsible for purchasing multiple filters and putting them in the wrong spots. So I appreciate the quality of the filter but also how easy it is to install.

I also like the steel cage that surrounds the filters that can help keep them protected from user error or maybe giant pieces of cat litter. 

• Lifetime warranty (with filter subscription)

This is definitely something that sets Jaspr apart. As long as you’re signed up for the JasprCare subscription (which is where they send you a new filter every 6 months for $199), then you’re covered by their warranty.

Yep: ANY issues with your Jaspr unit are fully covered. You barely ever see this type of warranty anymore.

• Free shipping & 30-day money-back guarantee

I love to see free shipping and a 30-day return policy on investment items like this because it just lowers the risk and gives you some peace of mind, knowing that you can send it back if you’re not happy with it. (Just keep the box!)

(P.S. The free shipping is only available the the continental U.S. and Canada as of right now. More countries to come later!)

• They’re always innovating

I like how the Jaspr team always seems to be trying to improve things. For example, they recently switched from a 0.5 lb carbon filter to a 1 lb carbon filter (more on that below).

They’ve also told me that they’re working on new innovations like a nanotech filter (which would provide even more powerful filtering capabilities), as well as working on a fully recyclable filter replacement (which would be super rare in air filter world).

Let’s talk specs (How the Jaspr air filter works)

Mike, the founder of Jaspr, created these air filters after spending a career working in wildfire and flood restoration. He saw firsthand how polluted air (whether from wildfire smoke or from post-flood mold growth) can affect people’s health, both acutely and chronically.

At the time, the only products available that could actually do an adequate job cleaning indoor air were large, industrial-like products that did the job but that no one wanted to keep in their homes. (Too big, too bulky, too loud!)

So, that’s why he created Jaspr.

Now, let’s talk a little bit about the actual filtering capabilities.

The 3-in-1 filter

Jaspr has a 3-step filtration system, which is all combined into one filter.  

• HEPA+ 

HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate absorbing.” No matter what air filter you choose at the end of the day, you’ll ideally want to make sure it has a HEPA filter. They are designed to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns (P.S. a micron is 39 millionths of an inch).

Many air filters you find at big box stores do not have a HEPA filter, which means it’s just not filtering the air adequately. In my opinion, if you’re going to spend the money and energy, you might as well spend it on something that truly works.

Jaspr’s HEPA+ filter takes it a step further by capturing particles as small as 0.035 microns!

• Carbon

The second thing you’ll want to look for in whatever air filter you choose is carbon. A carbon filter is important for capturing things like VOCs, which a HEPA filter is not as good at catching.

Ideally a filter should have 5 pounds or more of carbon, but few do. The Jaspr has 1 lb granular carbon filter and their explanation for doing so can be found on their website, in the form of a voice note.

I definitely encourage you to listen to the voice note if you’re considering getting a Jaspr, but to sum it up in basic terms: there is always some give and take when designing an air filter. If you put more carbon in, you have to sacrifice other things, like airflow, weight, quietness, and ability to filter out particulates (like smoke, mold spores, etc).

Jaspr has decided to optimize for airflow, filtering particulates, and quietness, while still including that 1 lb of carbon that can help with VOCs.

(If you’re wondering: this is very similar to the AirDoctor, which also has an “UltraHEPA” but not a ton of carbon.)

• Pre-Filter

The pre-filter not only captures molecules, but it also protects the HEPA+ filter from damage, which increases longevity and effectiveness. It’s made of paper pleating.

What can it filter out?

As I mentioned, Jaspr can filter:

• Dust, pollen, & other allergens
• Smoke particles (wildfire, cigarette, incense/candles)
• Mold spores
• Pet dander
• VOCs (from cooking, furniture “off-gassing,” household cleaning supplies, etc.)

As someone who is very sensitive to mold, Abbie really appreciates their third-party testing for mold filtration. As you can see from the image above, the Jaspr removed 87% of mold spores in a 500 square foot room in just 60 minutes. (At this rate, the air would have 98% less mold in 3 hours and 99.9% less mold in 24 hours.)

Let’s talk cost

Like I mentioned before, the cost is one of the only downsides to the Jaspr. I think its performance is great, I love that it goes above and beyond with the HEPA+ filter, the design and digital screen are great and I’m not the only one who thinks so (check out this review from Wellness Daddy on YouTube). 

But obviously, $1,399 (plus $199 every 6 months for filter replacement costs) is an investment. I DO think you get what you pay for and that the Jaspr is worth it, but I also understand that life is expensive and that this may be outside of many folks’ budget.

Now, all that being said, Jaspr has worked out a deal for us. If you use the code THEFILTERY you’ll get 10% off your order.

Are air filters sustainable & do you really need one? 

I work with sustainable brands and approach most things with environmental friendliness in the back of my head. I was resistant to getting an air filter for a long time because all I could think about was the waste from a disposable filter and the energy used from another device plugged in. 

But sustainability isn’t black and white (unfortunately) and what might be sustainable for me might not make sense for you. So, if you’re like me and factoring sustainability into your decision to buy an air filter, let’s talk it out. 

Environmental pros to air filters

• Health! 

Our health counts as an environmental pro! I have two cats and my partner and I are allergic to cats so getting an air filter was kind of important. All of the products and things going on in our homes mean that more often than not, indoor air quality is worse than outdoor air quality.

Obviously, things like wildfires, industrial pollution, agricultural pollution, and flooding (which increases mold risk) can all decrease air quality on the whole as well. Natural disasters are becoming more common and more extreme with climate change, increasing our need for adequate air filtration.

Filtering the air in our homes to protect our long-term health can also help reduce the burden on the healthcare system over time. Protecting my longterm health in every way I can will help me continue to be a contributing member of society and will help me to keep working toward a more sustainable future. (It might sound a little cheesy, but it’s true!)

• Less work for the HVAC system

Cleaner air in your home can actually help your HVAC system run less and more efficiently, saving energy and money.

Environmental cons to air filters

• Waste generation

Obviously using something that needs to be disposed of every 6 months is still waste. I asked Mike from Jaspr about this, and he told me that they are working on a fully recyclable filter, so hopefully we will see that sometime in the future.

(He also told me that the Jaspr itself is recyclable when the motor is removed.)

As I mentioned earlier, there are a few air filters on the market that advertise reusable filters, but those either don’t actually filter very well at all OR the reusable part is only a portion of the filter and they still use disposable filters too (or both).

So even though the disposable nature of air filters in general is one of the biggest downsides for me, this is just true of pretty much all air purifiers at this time. (Jaspr is no different.)

• Energy consumption 

Simply by plugging in a device to your home’s grid, you are using more electricity. (Although, Jaspr is Energy Star certified, which means it’s met energy efficiency criteria set by the US EPA or the US Department of Energy, which is good!).

• More plastic in your home (depending on the brand!)

Jaspr is very low plastic and made from steel, which I love. Other filters are made from plastic.

(Mike did tell me that although the whole filter is not recyclable, the metal framing and end caps are, so you could technically take it apart if you want to put in the effort.)

All in all, I’m really happy with Jaspr! I think I will purchase the refills and I’ll be sure to update this post with my dirty filter. 

I hope this review has been helpful for you in deciding whether or not a Jaspr air purifier is best for you and your family. If you have any questions that weren’t addressed here, let me know in the comments!