Why is it important to change the filters in your air purifier?

Air purifiers have made life much easier for many people.

On the one hand, they purify the air in your home, allowing you to breathe cleaner air, free from unpleasant odors. On the other hand, they require little maintenance, making them easier to integrate into your home's routine.

Nevertheless, it's always a good idea to know how often to change your air purifier filters to get the most out of the system and avoid breakdowns that damage the unit.

Types of air purifier filters

Most air purifiers are equipped with three filters, enabling them to perform their function completely. To know how often to change your air purifier's filters, you need to know about each of them.

The first is the pre-filter. It retains the largest particles, known as PM10. Next comes the activated carbon filter. Its function is to neutralize odors and volatile organic compounds. Finally, there's the HEPA filter, which filters out microscopic particles known as PM1.

The pre-filter can filter out particles such as hair, pollen and dust, while the HEPA filter even filters out bacteria and viruses.

When replacing filters, particular attention should be paid to the charcoal and HEPA filters, which cannot be washed or vacuumed. The pre-filter, on the other hand, can be washed periodically - in fact, monthly - and can be washed under running water.

Importance of replacing air purifier filters

It's important to remember that all impurities in the air are trapped in the air purifier filter. The filter has such microscopic openings that virtually no impurities pass through. As a result, they are able to capture very small particles such as allergens.

However, the more the filter is used, the greater the risk of it clogging up and no longer letting air through. On the other hand, the pressure exerted by impurity particles can lead to gradual degradation of the filter, allowing certain particles to pass through. Under these conditions, the filter would not fulfil its air purification function.

Replacing an air purifier filter is just as crucial for the unit's proper operation as it is for the health of those who breathe its air. That's why it's important to keep in mind how often you should change your air purifier's filters, so as not to get lost and avoid device breakdowns.

When should I change my air purifier filter?

It's very important to change the filter at the right time. In many cases, air purifiers are equipped with indicators that show when it's time to change the filters, making the task much easier. On our air purifiers, an indicator will flash after 1600 hours of use. At this point, it's important to change your filters. You can reset this by pressing the filter button for 6 seconds.

Also, in the case of air purifiers and filter changes, this will depend on the use of the appliance and the air quality of the environment in which it is located. For example, it's recommended that you change your filters 1 to 2 times a year in a normal environment without too much pollution, and 2 to 6 times a year if you live in an environment with pollution present (such as for smokers).

What you need to know
The dirtier or more turbid the air, the shorter the filter life. Obviously, it can be difficult to know the actual pollution parameters of an environment if the purifier is not equipped with sensors to tell you.

There are devices on the market to measure the air quality in a room. However, if you don't want to incur the expense or rely on such a thorough check, it's best to change the filter once a year.

Purifiers P3001 and P6006 by Protech Allergies are equipped with a pollutant sensor.

However, each model is different, and most have their own air filters. So the duration also depends on the manufacturer. Sometimes, the air purifier manufacturer gives precise instructions on how often to change the air purifier filters in the user manual.

How to change an air purifier filter

If it's important to know when, it's equally important to know how. Replacing the air purifier filter depends on the model and even the brand of air purifier you're using.

In most cases, the process is similar, so there's no need to worry. It's just important to get it right so that the purifier works properly.

The first step in replacing air purifier filters is to switch off the unit. While this may sound silly, it's a very important step that will protect you from accidents and prevent damage to the unit. On some models, when you reach the filter area, the unit switches off automatically. However, it is always essential to unplug the unit.

Then reach the back of the purifier and remove the grille covering the filter. Be particularly careful here. The filter area must be handled with care. When removing the filters from the air purifier, avoid running your hand through the folds of the filters or bringing them close to your nose or face in general. It's essential to wash your hands after handling the used filter. Once removed, you can put the new filter in its place. Most filters have an indicator of the position in which they should be placed.

Then replace the grille and switch the purifier back on. If the filter indicator has lit up, it's a good idea to reset it so that it goes out.
Keeping this information in mind about when and how to change the filter on an air purifier will help you enjoy your appliance for longer, and breathe cleaner air.

Conclusion

As we already know, air purifier technology is highly advanced, and a complete air cleaning process can be achieved with the help of these devices.

Air purifiers have been a great help to many people: they help prevent allergens, germs and pollution in the environment, making the air cleaner and helping to prevent respiratory illnesses. But to get the most out of them, you need to know how often to change your air purifier filter and, in particular, what the different types of filter are, what their function is and how to keep them clean for optimum maintenance.

Keeping this information in mind about when and how to change an air purifier filter will help you enjoy your appliance for longer and breathe cleaner air.

Wishing you the best of health.

The Protech Allergies team