How often should we change our Air Purifier filters?
Most air purifiers are marketed towards someone with a respiratory problem (allergy, asthma, etc.), pet dander, dust problem, smoke and mold problems. What the air purifiers do is filter out fine sub-micron size dust particles present in the air ensuring the surrounding air is clean. As the air filter accumulates more debris over time, the air purifier's filtration function will not able to operate at its highest capacity.
Before a consumer makes a purchase decision, one of the important factors to keep in mind is how long the product will last. Whenever you are looking for something important such as your health, you will want it to last longer than a few months. When it comes to the replacement filters the longevity is what you are looking for.
Due to that, there are many factors that need to be taken into account when buying replacement filters. For examples the quality of indoor airs, frequency of use, and the filter type, ease of purchase and delivery, whether its genuine or suspect. Let’s look at these factors in details:
The condition of indoor air quality: If the air at your surrounding is dirtier than normal the faster the filters will reach its maximum capacity. If your place is closer to the main road with cars that emit smoke and pollutants or if you have furry pets in your household and smoker in your place, these are the examples where you can expect a shorter lifespan for your filters and be ready to replace with a new one at higher frequency.
The frequency of usage: Evidently, an air purifier that runs 24/7 will require maintenance a lot faster than an air purifier that only runs on a certain time of the day.
The water quality of your surrounding: for washable filters usually the tap water content that rich in mineral deposits can compromise the efficiency of the filters since this mineral has the possibility to clogged up the filters.
The filter type: Some filter types need to be replaced more frequently than others. For instance, pre-filters typically need to be cleaned every month, while HEPA filters have a longer lifespan but can’t be washed.
There are many different types of filters, but the two main kinds are washable and permanent. They both have their pros and cons, but they also need maintenance and upkeep to extend their life. Washing and vacuuming is the key to extending the longevity of the filters. However, permanent ones also need to be replaced after a while. Changing them is important if you want filters to continue functioning at its maximum capacity and help purify your surrounding air and reduce any harm to your respiratory health.
General Filter Replacement Schedule
Before changing the filters check the user manual to give you an idea when to change the filters. If the information is not made available by the specific manufacturer check the type of filter is used in your air purifier. Below is the general guide when to change your filters according to the types of filters:
HEPA Filters: Must be replaced every twelve to eighteen months.
Carbon Filters: Must be replaced from three to six months.
Pre-Filters: Must be cleaned every month and replaced when worn out.
Permanent Filters: Must be cleaned every three months and replaced when damaged.
Bear in mind that this is just a general guide. There may be certain setups or settings that are exemptions to the rule, especially with the fast-paced growth and development of the air purifier industry where new technologies and filter types are continuously being developed.
It may be confusing to us to know when to change the filters, but with the general schedule stated above might help in choosing the time when to change the filter. However, by the end of the day, we need to check the specified user manuals of the unit to be able to have an idea when to change the filters.
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