Filter Maintenance for your Air Purifier
Air purifiers are beneficial for many reasons. Asthma, allergies and chemical sensitivities, just to name a few. These units greatly improve the quality of air inside your home or work by removing, eliminating, trapping and even killing odors, dirt, smoke, bacteria, and germs.
In order to keep them running efficiently and for their intended purpose, maintenance is key. Most air purifiers require simple filter changes, which varies, depending on the job that each filter does. Other units require regular washing to maintain their effectiveness. Whether the air filters require replacement or needs to be cleaned or washed, regular maintenance is required. To keep optimum air quality in your living or working space, maintenance is necessary as all air filters come with a lifespan.
HOW TO KEEP MY AIR PURIFIER LASTING LONGER?
You can significantly extend the lifespan of your air purifier by keeping up with a regular replacement schedule. Neglecting to replace your air purifier’s filters will have a negative impact on your indoor air quality. In addition, by not keeping up with timely filter changes, you will put great strain on your air purification unit. As a result this strain could either lead to a malfunction or even a breakdown of your investment. Plugged filters will result in harmful pollutants and bacteria that would normally get trapped. This will lead to the re-circulation of harmful pollutants around your home/work.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY FILTERS?
Pre-filters
As a general rule of thumb, prefilters should be replaced every 3 to 6 months. The purpose of a pre-filter is to capture the large particles such as dust, lint, pet hair and pollen, as a first line of defense, but its biggest job is to protect the HEPA filter. By doing its intended job, it extends the life of the HEPA filter. Pre-filters are important to change as often as recommended by the manufacturer. It is important that the pre-filter remains clean so it does not impede the airflow. Low airflow through your air purifier will reduce the efficiency of the filtration process. Also, it will cause the fan motor to work harder.
HEPA Filters
HEPA filters should be replaced every 2 to 4 years. They are critical in filtering the finer particles that get past the pre-filter. These filters are incredibly effective at capturing particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. That’s as small as 1/84,000 of an inch! These filters are tightly interwoven in various directions to create a web like system.
Ultra Violet (UV) Lights
If your air purifier has UVC lights like the PUR Distribution 900 series air purifiers do, they must be replaced every 2 to 4 years as well. Our units have two 35 watt Ultra Violet bulbs. They can are located in the reflection chamber where they emit powerful UV light rays that are designed to kill or inhibit bacteria, viruses and mold. These non-ozone producing lamps also activate the next filter, the PCO filter (Photo-Catalytic Oxidation).
PCO Filter
If your air purifier has a PCO filter then you are fortunate. When you combine the PCO filter with the UVC lights a reaction takes place and “malignant contaminants” are changed into a harmless by-product which is water and carbon dioxide. These particles are attached and they break their cellular structure. PCO filters require replacement every 2 years.
Carbon-Potassium Permanganate Filter
Lastly, some air purifiers have a final filter, the Carbon-Potassium Permanganate filter which further reduces odours, light and non-organic gases. This type of filter provides the widest range of odour removal. Potassium permanganate is an inorganic chemical compound that has a strong oxidizing agent and does not produce a toxic end product. This filter requires replacement every 2-4 years or even longer!
If you have invested in an air purification system for your home or work environment, you will greatly benefit for years to come. By simply keeping track of your filter replacement schedule, your air purification unit will provide many years of clean purified air. Maintaining and changing your filters will allow your air purification unit to function at its best. Let’s not take for granted the air that we breathe just because we cannot see it! You will feel better as you breathe clean, purified air in your home or business each and every day.
Here at PUR Distribution we offer a wide variety of Air Cleaners. From our PD-900DW DUCT OR WALL MOUNT HEPA AIR PURIFIER to our PD HEPA DM 400 VS WHOLE HOME DUCT OR WALL MOUNT HEPA AIR CLEANER we have the correct air purification equipment to suit your needs. Our air cleaners are designed to remove household dust, insecticide dust, mites, pollen, spores and bacteria including airborne viruses .
At PUR Distribution we are a family run company that strives to provide you with knowledge and the importance of breathing clean purified air. Feel free to contact us to learn more at 416-410-3450 or email us at info@purdistribution.com .
