How Long to Run an Air Purifier For?

You finally purchased an air purifier and it has finally arrived? Excellent! Now it’s time to get to know your air purifier better.

Can I Run the Air Purifier All the Time?

This is the first question that almost everybody is asking. Air purifiers are made to run 24/7. So to answer your question, you can run your air purifier 24 hours a day if there’s someone at home at all times. But if your home is empty for at least a few hours a day, it’s actually recommended to turn off your air purifier so you can save on energy, prolong the endurance of the filter, and of course, avoid unwanted fire hazards.

What’s more, there is no rule when it comes to the frequency of running your air purifier. The good thing about these devices is that they are made to run 24/7, so you can turn them on and off depending on your needs. However, we recommend running the air purifier for at least 12 hours every day.

Should I Leave My Air Purifier On When I Am Not At Home?

Some air purifiers, especially the more high-end models, have self-regulation technology that can detect whether the air is clean enough so it can stop consuming electricity. The ones on the cheaper end, however, need to be either manually turned off, or manually regulated where you adjust the timer and the speed of the fan.

If you are concerned about the quality of the air when you come home, have in mind that the purifier needs between 30 minutes and 2 hours to clean the air in your personal space, depending on the size of your home and the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of the purifier.

To get the best results, we recommend running the appliance at full speed when you enter the room. If it has a sensor, the air purifier will adjust its speed over time, if it doesn’t, we recommend reducing the speed after several hours.

Can I Sleep With the Air Purifier On?

The air purifier can also run while you’re asleep. Considering that air purifiers clean the air from smoke, allergens, dust, mold, and other harmful particles, we strongly recommend to keep your air purifier on. Sleeping with purified air is severely important for children and infants, as well as people who suffer from cardiovascular issues and allergies. Air purifiers also produce a soothing sound that can help you fall asleep faster. However, if you are bothered by the sound of the purifier, we have a page with reviews of the best quiet air purifiers.

How Often Should I Change the Filters of My Air Purifier?

The filters can last from 3 to 6 months, some even longer. Nonetheless, the lifetime of the filter depends on the amount of usage of the air purifier and the amount of contaminants in your air that it needs to filter out. Most devices are equipped with a “Replace Filter” light, or will send you a notification to your mobile device if you have one that connects to an app, so you’ll know when the time comes to replace the filter.