Air purifiers cleanse the atmosphere around you through the work of their filters that either trap the contaminants and foreign particles or neutralize them so that they're way too heavy and they fall to the ground. They're generally good for the health of those who suffer from allergies and asthma.The question here is how long should an air purifier run. Typically, you'll start seeing a difference in the air quality around you after two hours of running your device; but is that enough? That's what we'll discuss today.
Short Answer
The straightforward answer is 24 hours. All air purifiers are designed to work around the clock in order to provide you with better indoor air quality at all times.
Whenever you turn off your air purifier, air will start accumulating allergens, mold spores, dust particles, and VOCs, especially if you open the windows, doors or if you have pets around.
All of that will continuously invite foreign particles into your vicinity. That said, you'll need your air purifier to be working around the clock in order to eliminate said airborne contaminants.
Nonetheless, there are some factors that you need to consider when operating your air purifier, including the electricity bill and the lifespan of your device.
Functions That Help Air Purifiers Run Constantly
Manufacturers of air purifiers have also thought about workloads and lifespans diligently. Hence, they added some features and functions to their devices to make working 24 hours a piece of cake.
Let's take a look at the most prominent of these functions.
Air Quality Detector
The air quality detector, as suggested by the name, follows the progress of the air purifier in cleaning the air in a particular room. When it reaches a certain point, that is the optimum level of purification, the user is free to either turn off the air purifier or set it to a much slower working pace.
Smart Sensors
If your air purifier has smart sensors, they'll probably be connected to the air quality detector, and they'll end up adjusting the fan's speed accordingly.
Without interference, the fan will automatically slow down when the air is purified so that the appliance is working at a slower, more comfortable speed and not using that much electricity.
This creates a balance between the air purifier not overworking itself, and the air staying at the required level of cleanliness.
Sleep Timer
A sleep timer, as the name suggests, allows you to set the hours through which you want your purifier to work. When the preset time passes, the device will shut off automatically.
Further down this post, we'll discuss a method of saving and electricity, and that is splitting the workload between the morning, afternoon, and night times, in addition to when you're inside or outside the house. This method relies mainly on sleep timers.
How to Conserve Electricity
Normally, air purifiers don't boast extravagant electricity usage. Nevertheless, when you're working them 24/7 every day, such a cost is bound to have a snowball effect.
That's why you need to take the small measures that might seem unimportant in order to conserve energy each and every day, not just for the well-being of your wallet, but for the environment and the current state of pollution as well.
Know the Rates for Different Times
If you've ever watched Extreme Cheapskates, you know that the cost of electricity differs throughout the different periods of time during the day. When there's less traffic on electricity, such as the times between 7 PM to 7 AM and 9 PM to 9 AM, the rates are much lower.
So, if you want to turn on your air purifier, maybe this is the time for it, as you'll be charged a much lower rate than turning it on at 2 or 3 PM, for instance, when everyone's cooking, cleaning, and working.
Split the Workloads
Another thing that you can do is split the workload. Don't let it run for 12 hours continuously; rather, set a timer on for two hours before you wake up, two hours when you're at work, and two hours when you're having dinner.
That way, you won't be overworking the air purifier in any way, and you'll be figuring out different times and rates to understand the electricity schedule better.
How to Expand the Lifespan of Your Air Purifier
Now, let's not forget that air purifiers are big-ticket appliances. So, whenever you're buying one, you don't even want to think about replacing them anytime soon.
Still, if you're abusing the device in any way, a replacement will be inevitable. That being said, let's go over some tips and tricks that can help you expand the lifespan of your air purifier.
Clean and Change Filters
No matter what type of filters your air purifier uses, whether HEPA, PECO, activated carbon filter, or other, these filters are bound to reach their maximum capacity of trapping foreign particles.
You need to either clean the air purifier's filters or replace them on a regular basis to ensure your device's longevity.
Maintenance
Another thing that you've got to keep in mind is regular maintenance for your device, especially if it's making any weird noises, giving out alarms, or working abnormally.
Don't hesitate to take it back to your manufacturer or your closest repair shop to find the problem and fix it as soon as possible.
Seasonal Workloads
This entirely depends on the place where you live and the climate that you're exposed to, but, in general, the summer brings with it pollen, allergens, bugs, and various other tiny particles that invade your indoor atmosphere.
Consequently, you'll be running your purifier for much longer periods in the summer than in the winter when all of the windows are closed to preserve the heating systems.
The bottom line is that you need to rest your device whenever you can.
Outside Help
Another thing that you can do is enlist outside help. Some products and plants can help improve your indoor air quality, and they don't require much effort at all.
Everyone knows that plants help cleanse the air around us. So, if you're a plant advocate, fill your house with them.
Just make sure that you know how to take care of them properly, and they'll be a great source of help for your air purifier.
Final Thoughts
An air purifier will run for as long as it needs to in order to sanitize and cleanse the air around you. That's precisely what they're designed for. Nonetheless, don't forget to factor in both your electricity bill and the lifespan of your device.
