Like many other people who have written reviews about the chemical odor issue. This is what happened to me and what happened after I talked to the manufacturer.
1) I bought a replacement filter from Amazon and like many, it had a strong chemical odor
2) Upon contacting Coway support via email, I told them about the issue and they said that the filters had been exposed to something (no mention of any details on of what or how) but that they did not think it was toxic and that Amazon knows about this so I should ask for a replacement. I had to include a screenshot of my receipt as proof of purchase.
3) I explained this to Amazon support about the issue. There was no mention of knowing about the exposure or the odor but they did send me a return label and a replacement.
4) This second filter still had the odor but was much less. Still concerned, I reached out to Coway again and told them that the issue still persisted with the new filter, described to them a little more about the issue, and provided other information (upon their request) such as my name, address, photos of the filter inside the 1512HH, and the serial number of the 1512HH, and they would consider sending a replacement.
5) I got a replacement from Coway and the filter had a very slight odor but was much, much better than the two from Amazon. However, the plastic packaging around the filter was a little different as it contained a yellow informational tag (with a diagram to remove the plastic), and the plastic packaging had an adhesive flap that one can reopen and close. There were also a few crease marks on one of the sides of the filter itself, possibly from sustaining pressure or impact or from being handled. I'm not sure of the exact cause but none of the filters (including the original one that came with the 1512HH had that) have such creases. So, I can't definitively say that this filter was handled in some way to remove the smell before it was sent to me, or if the filter sustained some sort of pressure from storage or shipping, but I can at least say that they were responsive to my concerns and sent me one that barely an odor. Another observation is that the printed identification on the filters are different (as shown in photo). Also, it came in the same box as the filters from Amazon but only had 1 odor filter, instead of 2.
The final observation is that I continued to use the second, and less smelly filter from Amazon. I tolerated through the odor because I live in an area affected by wildfire smoke and didn't have much of a choice while I corresponded with Coway and waited for the replacement. I can't say if that was right move in terms of possible toxicity but that's what I decided for myself. The smell did eventually go away, but it definitely takes a couple weeks of regular use/airing out though.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Chemical odor in filters and what I did about it
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020
Like many other people who have written reviews about the chemical odor issue. This is what happened to me and what happened after I talked to the manufacturer.
1) I bought a replacement filter from Amazon and like many, it had a strong chemical odor
2) Upon contacting Coway support via email, I told them about the issue and they said that the filters had been exposed to something (no mention of any details on of what or how) but that they did not think it was toxic and that Amazon knows about this so I should ask for a replacement. I had to include a screenshot of my receipt as proof of purchase.
3) I explained this to Amazon support about the issue. There was no mention of knowing about the exposure or the odor but they did send me a return label and a replacement.
4) This second filter still had the odor but was much less. Still concerned, I reached out to Coway again and told them that the issue still persisted with the new filter, described to them a little more about the issue, and provided other information (upon their request) such as my name, address, photos of the filter inside the 1512HH, and the serial number of the 1512HH, and they would consider sending a replacement.
5) I got a replacement from Coway and the filter had a very slight odor but was much, much better than the two from Amazon. However, the plastic packaging around the filter was a little different as it contained a yellow informational tag (with a diagram to remove the plastic), and the plastic packaging had an adhesive flap that one can reopen and close. There were also a few crease marks on one of the sides of the filter itself, possibly from sustaining pressure or impact or from being handled. I'm not sure of the exact cause but none of the filters (including the original one that came with the 1512HH had that) have such creases. So, I can't definitively say that this filter was handled in some way to remove the smell before it was sent to me, or if the filter sustained some sort of pressure from storage or shipping, but I can at least say that they were responsive to my concerns and sent me one that barely an odor. Another observation is that the printed identification on the filters are different (as shown in photo). Also, it came in the same box as the filters from Amazon but only had 1 odor filter, instead of 2.
The final observation is that I continued to use the second, and less smelly filter from Amazon. I tolerated through the odor because I live in an area affected by wildfire smoke and didn't have much of a choice while I corresponded with Coway and waited for the replacement. I can't say if that was right move in terms of possible toxicity but that's what I decided for myself. The smell did eventually go away, but it definitely takes a couple weeks of regular use/airing out though.