Nowadays, air purifiers are a common sight in households. We use them to maintain the air quality in our home office, deodorize the kitchen, and help us sleep through the night. There are numerous situations where an air purifier may be necessary. Some are even used to prevent the spread of viruses. It is impossible to overstate the value of and reliance on this equipment. However, if they are not properly maintained, even the best air purifiers’ performance can deteriorate.
You might have recently realized that your air purifier is using less electricity, or maybe it hasn’t been performing as well as you had hoped. In either event, there are a number of domestic issues that might affect an air purifier’s efficiency, all of which can be lessened or resolved with a few simple adjustments. Here, we’ll explain exactly what’s stopping your air purifier from performing at its optimum and how to fix it.
Here are some tips for enhancing your air purifier’s efficiency.
Location
Even if some air purifiers undoubtedly have a difficult time looking attractive, once you get one home, you can’t simply hide it behind the couch – not if you want it to function properly, that is. For maximum results, an air purifier needs to be able to properly draw in clean air, disperse it around the room, and then ‘breathe’ by having space to ventilate. That suggests ideally leaving it unobstructed in the open without any hindrances.
Keep in mind the recommended room size for your air purifier as well; if the space is considerably larger than what it can manage, this could be the cause of your air purifier’s poor performance. Move it to a more convenient location and purchase a more powerful air purifier for large rooms, or purchase a second air purifier to assist the one you already have.
Replace the filter
Your air purifier continuously circulates air through numerous filter layers each time you use it, which causes airborne pollutants to persistently cling to and accumulate on each layer. These particles will ultimately accumulate to the point where your air purifier will eventually struggle to pass the air through, significantly lowering its CADR and overall performance if left uncontrolled. For this reason, you must not disregard the cries for a new filter.
If your machine has smart connectivity, some machines have sensors that can send notifications to your smartphone or indication lights to let you know when your filter needs to be changed. If there is no such notice on the machine, you may need to consult your manual for advice on how frequently to replace; suggestions typically range from 6 months to a year. The frequency of filter replacement ultimately depends on usage, therefore using your air purifier sparingly may extend its lifespan. The cost of filters should always be taken into account when purchasing an air purifier because they may be rather pricey.
Give it some assistance
Products that will lower the quality of the air in your house should be avoided. Otherwise, you’re just making your air purifier work harder than it needs to. Although candles and oil diffusers have pleasant scents, they both release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are poisons and chemicals, into the air. Why exacerbate the issue when this is one of the key things your air purifier is actually attempting to filter out?
If you must use something that will pollute substantially, like cooking oil or hairspray, attempt to open a window and ventilate the excess first rather than relying entirely on your air purifier to handle the job. This will hasten the air purification process.
Make it clean
One appliance we frequently overlook cleaning is an air purifier, especially since the filters can be changed. However, you should still regularly inspect your air purifier to prevent dust build-up around the vents and sensors, which could negatively affect its effectiveness.
Turn off the device and wipe the exterior with a damp microfiber cloth, taking care not to touch any electrical parts. If necessary, you can clean the vents’ dust with a gentle brush. If your model has an air quality sensor, find it (check your manual for guidance). To clean the sensor, adhere to the manufacturer’s care instructions.
Employ the auto setting
Nowadays, the majority of air purifiers come with an auto setting, so if yours does too, use it. With this feature, your air purifier will automatically modify the fan speed in accordance with the air quality, which is detected by sensors. This ensures that your air purifier never consumes more energy than is necessary to purify your air. It also implies that if a pollutant is unexpectedly found in your house, the purifier will pick up the slack.
Since it essentially gives you additional power when needed, this can enhance air purifier performance. You’re not always using the best setting if you simply keep to a low, steady fan speed. Try going to the auto option and letting your air purifier decide on fan speed because even though the highest fan speed setting on some models can be loud, it will only be utilized when necessary.
Use the other options that your air purifier has to offer. Check to see if there is a night mode if you want to use it at night but can’t sleep with the lights on the device. By doing so, you can get a better night’s sleep while still having an impact on the air.
Close the doors and windows
Leaving your windows and doors open while your air purifier is running is counterproductive, even though fresh air is obviously necessary and air purifiers cannot replace this. Any pure air will simply exit, while any contaminants from the outside will keep coming in. When your air purifier is on, keep the windows and doors closed. Only open them after the air purifier has been turned off.
Try to alternate between the two and decide when it is best to let the outside in. For instance, circumstances may be harsher in the early morning than they are in the afternoon, depending on your location and the type of pollution you’re trying to avoid. You may use this as a reference to determine the optimum time to open windows.
