I tested a new Dyson air purifier that will also humidify and cool your home — it’s improved my home’s air quality *and* my dry skin

Multi-purpose appliances are taking the air quality world by storm, and the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox is the latest addition from Dyson. And as this 3-in-1 product promises to purify, humidify and cool your home, I was eager to take it for a test drive.

Over the course of two weeks, I've assessed everything from its ease of use to how it's made me (and my home) feel, to see if it has what it takes to compete with the best air purifiers. This is everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

As I live in a damp Victorian home, the idea of using a humidifier has always filled me with dread. But the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox promises to control moisture levels while also offering advanced air purification and cooling powers. And after testing, I can certainly see the appeal.

In fact, the stats and specs are extremely impressive. The humidifying properties hygienically clean the air in your home while also improving dry skin and congestion. The HEPA H13 filter captures 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns (while most air purifiers only filter down to 0.3 microns), and it can also act as one of the best fans, projecting purified, humidified air throughout a room. Plus, this model has been improved to capture more NO2, which is produced when any type of fuel is burned during cooking or heating a home.

While using it for two weeks in my home, my husband experienced a significant improvement in his allergies and congestion when used overnight, and on a personal level, I definitely felt like my skin wasn’t as dry. During the testing process, I could also feel (and see through the app) that my home’s overall air quality improved, and it felt like I could breathe easier - even though it's pretty heavy and has a giant plug.

In true Dyson fashion, the app is also super easy to use, with a huge amount of customisation at your fingertips. This allows you to control everything, from fan speed to moisture levels, directly from your phone. However, the elephant in the room is that this appliance is an investment, and one I think would be worthwhile if you’re truly looking to maximise its features.

Specifications

• Weight: 8.12kg
• Filter type: Combined 3-stage HEPA H13 + K-Carbon filter
• Cord length: 1.8m
• Oscillation/Angle: 90 degrees
• Noise level: 38dB-68dB (tested by us)
• In the box: Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-NOx Purifying humidifying fan, Combined HEPA + K-Carbon filter, remote control, power supply
• RRP: £699.99

How I tested

Lauren Bradbury

I’m Lauren, Content Editor at Ideal Home and resident air quality expert. I tested the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox in my three-bedroom semi in Kent over a two-week period. I share this home with my husband (who struggles with hay fever and congestion), and my dog (who leaves pet dander and dust everywhere). I also live near a busy motorway, and our Victorian home isn't well ventilated.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 arrived in a giant box - and when I say giant, I really do mean giant. It was almost as tall as me (for reference, I’m 5’2”, and it came up to just below my chest) and was a lot bigger than the average box that turns up on my doorstep. However, it wasn’t as heavy as it looked - around 12.4kg overall - and it did have carry handles on the side.

So, I managed to get it over the threshold without too many issues, but it’s worth noting this if you’re on the shorter side like me or have limited mobility, as you may need a helping hand.

I was initially a little disappointed to see that the box itself was encased in plastic, as this didn’t seem necessary. The main unit within the box was also encased in plastic, and it was hard to determine from the lack of information on the plastic whether it was recyclable or not. Because of this, I popped it in my normal waste bin.

One thing I did like, however, was that there was minimal setup required. The entire unit was already assembled, and the only thing I needed to do was take it out of the box, remove all the stickers and bits of cardboard that kept the filters safe, fill up the water tank, and then connect it to the Dyson app.

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The whole process took a matter of minutes, and I was able to start using it immediately. Before I did this, though, I took a moment to assess the overall look of the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox.

Obviously, the elephant in the room is that it’s a big appliance. It’s not small, and you need to ensure that you have the space in your home to truly get the most out of it. I did - and still do - love the overall aesthetic of it, though. It’s very ‘Dyson’, and everything from the shape to the colourway fits in with the brand’s usual look.

As someone who has many Dyson products in my home, however, I couldn’t help but note that the quality of the materials used didn’t seem as impressive as other appliances I’ve tested. For example, the Dyson Big+Quiet offers the same gold casing for the filters, but the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 didn’t seem to feel as sturdy.

The Dyson Big+Quiet is over 3kg heavier, though, so perhaps this was a conscious decision by Dyson to make the appliance lighter.

Another thing to note is that the plug is also very large. And while the cord is a very practical length at 1.8m, the actual plug itself is significantly larger than the average plug, and I was forced to move furniture forward to make space for it, as there was no way I could plug it in without doing so. Nevertheless, my initial assessment was a relatively positive one, and I was looking forward to testing it out.

Ease of use

Like most of the modern Dyson appliances, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox can be controlled via the app. And while the wealth of information and controls at your fingertips can be a little overwhelming to begin with, it really couldn't be easier to use once you get the hang of it.

Through the app, you can turn it on, adjust the fan speed and humidity levels, activate the oscillation function, and customise the machine’s settings. For example, I set up a schedule for the air purifier and humidifier to turn on at 8 pm (just before I go to bed) and turn off at 4 am (a couple of hours before I wake), and found it to be the sweet spot for a good night’s sleep.

Through the app, you can also set up voice control using Siri, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home, if you prefer to turn it on and off this way.

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You can also check out the overall air quality by looking at the colour of the background on the app (green is ‘Good’, and it’ll turn to yellow, red or purple as the air quality worsens).

Plus, on the home page of the app, you’ll also be able to note the current temperature, humidity level, PM2.5 (smaller particulate matter), PM10 (larger particulate matter), HCHO (formaldehyde), VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide) levels in the room.

Below this, you can then scroll down to a more detailed view of your air quality history on the app. So, it’s easy to view and manage all of the information at your fingertips.

Performance

As I share my home with a husband who struggles with hay fever and morning congestion, I was excited to see whether the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox would offer any noticeable improvements for him. So, I primarily kept the appliance upstairs in our bedroom - but did take it downstairs into the lounge every few days to see how it fared against cooking smells and the candles I love so much.

When used upstairs, my husband told me that the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox did make his sleep patterns more comfortable. He was able to drift off to sleep quickly, and he felt like he could breathe easier in the mornings. He also said that he didn’t feel as groggy and tired in the mornings, something I can confirm after living with him (and dealing with his morning grumpiness) for the past seven years!

Personally, I also struggle with dry skin in the mornings, and I’ve definitely noticed a change since using this purifier and humidifier. My skin feels more hydrated, and it doesn’t feel so tight and uncomfortable when I wake up.

Of course, the cooling function was also a godsend during hot late-summer evenings as I struggle to sleep in hot weather, and my bedroom often reaches a temperature of up to 26°C during the day. When the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox turned on at 8 pm, though, it immediately started cooling down the room, levelling out at a more comfortable 18°C most nights.

When used downstairs, it was the air-purifying properties that really took the cake. I found that cooking smells didn’t linger as long, and I felt confident that the ‘Auto’ function was keeping my air quality level - especially as I share a home with a dog and live very close to a busy motorway.

This was evident when I reviewed the graphs on the app, which showed how significantly my air quality fluctuated throughout the day.

One thing I have noticed with Dyson air purifiers in the past is that they have quite slow reaction times, which was confirmed when I put the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox through our air purifier testing process.

The first test was the match test, where I lit a match and waited for it to burn out, producing smoke. It took around five minutes for the appliance to detect a change in air quality, and the auto mode immediately increased the fan speed to accommodate the additional pollutants in the air. It then took around 20 minutes for the air quality to return to normal, which I thought was a little slow.

The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox thrived during the next deodorant test, though. It took just a few seconds for the appliance to detect the presence of VOCs in the air when I sprayed the aerosol in front of it, and my app quickly indicated that my air quality had entered the ‘severe’ purple zone. Within minutes, the air quality began to improve, and five minutes later, it was back in the green zone.

So, it was clear to see that this particular model is ideal for removing VOCs (which are prevalent in deodorants, paint, furniture, and when burning fuel) from the air.

For the bacon and dust tests, the reaction times were pretty average - if a little on the slow side. This is especially true when you compare it to a standalone air purifier like the Blueair Blue Max 3250i Air Purifier, which has been crowned the ‘best overall’ air purifier in this guide.

However, I had to remind myself that this is a 3-in-1 appliance, so while the air-purifying features were still impressive, they weren’t the only features on offer.

Noise levels

While no appliance is completely silent, one thing I will always give Dyson air purifiers credit for is that they’re generally pretty quiet.

I personally love a bit of white noise while I’m sleeping, so the hum of the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox - combined with its air purifying, cooling and humidifying properties - sent me off to sleep quicker than I usually do during testing.

When I used it downstairs in my living room, I actually had to check a few times that it was definitely still on, as it was impossible to hear when we were cooking or watching TV. Of course, it’s a little louder when you increase the fan speed, but I still didn’t find it to be overly loud.

In its quietest setting, I recorded a noise level of 38dB on my phone’s decibel meter app. On its highest setting, I recorded 68dB - which is a little more than Dyson’s claims of 62.4dB. That’s still only the level of a normal conversation, though.

However, it's worth noting that it’s not completely silent. So, if you don’t like the quiet hum of appliances running in the background, it’s probably not the appliance for you - especially if you want to use it in the bedroom when it’s not in night mode.

Cleaning and maintenance

As with any appliance that uses water, there will be some cleaning and maintenance involved, and the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox requires a ‘Deep Clean’ cycle every once in a while to prevent mineral build-up from affecting the appliance as a whole.

Dyson says that each Deep Clean cycle is determined by your water hardness, and as I live in a very hard water area of Kent (in fact, where I live is one of the hardest water areas in the UK), I’ll have to run this cycle more than those who live in softer water areas.

You can change the hardness of your water in the ‘settings’ area of the app, and it’ll tell you how many hours you have left before you need to run a deep cleaning cycle. The machine itself will also notify you when a cleaning cycle is required. But after using it regularly for two weeks, I still haven't had to do it.

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When I do, however, I’ve learned from the very clear instructions on the app that I’ll need to grab 150g of citric acid - like this Dri-Pak Citric Acid, £6.49 at Amazon - and place it in the water tank before pressing the Deep Clean cycle button on the machine. Like all Dyson appliances, the machine guides you through the entire process, ensuring you can’t go wrong.

You can also check the life of the HEPA+K-Carbon filter through the app and purchase a replacement immediately when needed. This can be purchased for £85 at the Dyson website. Of course, this filter replacement is expensive, and Dyson recommends replacing it every 12 months to keep the machine in full working order. So, this is something you need to keep in mind if you purchase it.

However, this is the only replacement part you’ll need to buy, as the formaldehyde-destroying catalytic filter will never need to be replaced. So, all in all, the cleaning and maintenance could be worse.

How does it compare to similar models?

It’s hard to compare the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox to any other appliance, as this 3-in-1 appliance is really one of the only ones on the market. The closest alternative is the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool (£699.99 at Dyson), which doesn’t have the benefit of being able to capture and filter out NO2. In that instance, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox is a great upgrade for the same price.

Another similar appliance is the Blueair ComfortPure 3-in-1 T10i Air Purifier, which is significantly cheaper. However, this 3-in-1 appliance is purely an air purifier, fan and heater, so it doesn’t offer any humidifying properties. If you wanted to, though, you could opt for a separate humidifier like the Dunelm Humidifier Aroma Nightlight with Seven Colours, which is only £25. All in all, this would also give you the benefit of having a heater to use during the winter months, too.

But if the hygienic humidifying properties are what sell it for you, the Dyson will always be a better choice. It looks sleeker, its filters are more advanced, and the mist-free humidifying properties allow you to control the moisture levels in your home much better.

How does it rate online?

As the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox is a brand-new product, there are very few reviews on the website from paying customers who have added this appliance to their roster. There are reviews from those who have received it as a gift from Dyson, and these reviews are largely positive, with one customer describing it as an ‘absolute life changer.’

However, to ensure I provide you with a proper representation of the reviews, I’ll update this in a few weeks once paying customers have purchased and used it.

Verdict: Should you buy the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox?

There’s no denying that the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-Nox is an investment. And while I appreciate that it’s essentially three appliances in one, and subsequently quite good value for money when you divide the £699.99 price tag by three, I still think the price is quite steep.

However, I think it would definitely suit those who struggle with dry skin and year-round allergies, as well as those who live in big cities or have an open fire or log burner in their homes. After talking to my sister (who is the doting mother of my two nephews, one who is five months old and one who has just turned two), I also know how desirable a 3-in-1 appliance is for young children and easing their congestion.

So, if you have a need for it, I do think it’s well worth the investment. It’s powerful, effective, and offers that sleek Dyson aesthetic that so many people love.

If you’re just looking for an air purifier, humidifier, or fan because you have the sniffles or feel a bit hot, I do have to wonder whether it’s overkill. In that instance, I’d suggest opting for cheaper, standalone appliances.