Air Purifier Maintenance: How to Keep Your Home Air Purifier in Great Shape

When you first buy an air purifier, you’ll start with a clean, new filter that will deliver optimal filtering performance. Over time, though, the filter can become clogged with the particles it’s taking out of your home air. To get the most out of your air purifier, there are a few basic maintenance steps you should take on a regular basis. Here are three air purifier maintenance tips you can use to keep your purifier working well and your home air clean.

 

Keep on Top of Your Filter Changes

 

The first and most important component of air purifier maintenance is making sure that you’re changing the filters at proper intervals. Like any kind of filters, the HEPA and carbon filters in air purifiers have a limited life span. To avoid air quality issues, be sure to change your filters at the interval suggested by the manufacturer. You can find the recommended interval for your specific model in your owner’s manual. Many modern air purifiers also come with filter change indicator lights that will conveniently tell you when it’s time to put in a new filter.

 

Since proper filter changes are so important, we’ve put together a helpful tool that will allow you to easily track when it’s time for a new filter. With our convenient Filter Change Reminder tool, you can simply plug in your air purifier model and an email address, and we’ll send you an email update when it’s time for a new filter! This tool takes the guesswork out of air purifier filter changes and helps you keep your unit working its best.

 

Wash Your Prefilter Regularly

 

In addition to standard HEPA and carbon filters, many air purifiers feature prefilters meant to remove larger particles such as dust, dirt and pet hair before they reach the main filter. Most prefilters are washable, allowing you to get rid of these unwanted contaminants and keep the air flowing more freely through your air purifier.

 

To figure out how often to wash your prefilter, we recommend running your new air purifier for about a month before checking it. If it’s obviously dirty, plan on washing it at least once a month. If the prefilter seems fairly clean, you can probably get away with washing it out once every quarter. For more information, check out the air purifier filter maintenance guide in our Learning Center.

 

Reduce Contaminants in Your Home Air

 

The more particles, VOCs and other contaminants are in your home air, the harder your air purifier has to work to remove them. To keep your filter working well over the long-term, try to reduce airborne contaminants at the source. Staying on top of dust in your home, recirculating air with a whole-house fan to avoid bringing in pollen from outside and vacuuming carpets regularly to reduce pet hair and dander are all simple, actionable strategies you can use to help your air purifier keep your air clean.

 

If you don’t know much about your home’s current air quality, you can learn more by using an indoor air quality monitor. These devices give you real-time readings of your indoor air quality so that you can take steps to improve it. Using an indoor air quality meter can also help you confirm that your air purifier is functioning properly and keeping your home air clean and healthy.

 

Have questions about air purifier maintenance or which air purifier is right for you? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us with your questions, and we’ll be happy to provide you with answers and product recommendations based on your unique needs. You can also browse our complete selection of  residential air purifiers to find a unit that’s right for your home.