FULMINARE PU-P05: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

The PU-P05 is a tiny, inexpensive H13 HEPA purifier that is genuinely quiet and cheap to run, but two independent tests measured it cleaning far less air than its advertised 215 sq ft — TechGearLab’s lab-measured ideal coverage is about 28 sq ft. [2][3] The most repeated ownership question is “is it even working?”, because filters stay clean for months, often because the plastic shipping bag was never removed [2][9]. Running cost is its best attribute: TechGearLab measured $47.79 a year all-in with the cartridge replaced every 3–6 months. [3][4]

Common problems and fixes

Cleans far less air than advertised — the listing claims up to 215 sq ft and a 135 CFM CADR, but TechGearLab scored its air cleaning 2.0/10, last of 12 units, with measured ideal coverage of about 28 sq ft; Air Purifier First measured only a 69% particle improvement in a 120 ft² room and 43% in a 194 ft² room after 60 minutes at max speed, and both doubted the CADR. [2][3]
Poor odor removal despite the carbon layer — Air Purifier First reports weak odor control; no fix is on file. [2]
Claimed 24 dB is not what it measures — TechGearLab measured 32.6–37.3 dB across the three speeds and Air Purifier First measured 41.1 dBA on low and 51.6 dBA on high; the low noise is still the unit’s strongest measured point. [2][3]
No auto mode, no sensor, no app — there is no air-quality sensor on the PU-P05, so it cannot adjust to conditions; you set a speed and a timer and that is it. [1][2]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Air Purifier First measured the electricity draw at 0.2 W on standby, 1.2 W on low, 1.6 W on medium and 2.7 W on high against the 6 W motor rating — about $0.24 a month at max speed. [2][3][4]

When it is a good buy

The unit is a sub-$35-class device; TechGearLab lists it at a $32 list price, the lowest of its 12-unit test, and at that level it is a defensible quiet air mover for a very small space where the night light and low noise matter more than measured cleaning. [3]

Alternatives:

FULMINARE PU-P07 — the same-brand step up when you want an air-quality monitor and auto mode on a budget. [1]
FULMINARE PU-T10 — the better choice for a large room, rated up to 1,095 sq ft with a real-time AQI sensor. [1]