An air purifier can improve your home’s indoor air quality, allowing you to breathe fresh air without the risk of inhaling harmful pollutants. According to statistics, retail sales of air cleaners in the U.S. have steadily increased over the last ten years, reaching more than 780 million U.S. dollars in 2019.
Although many households trust an air purifier by investing in the product, a common question often arises: is it safe to run air purifier 24/7?
The Role Air Purifiers Play in Protecting Your Family
Improves Circulation of Fresh Air
Air purifiers are created with one or more filters and a fan that sucks in and circulates air. The filter captures various pollutants, and the clean air pushes back into the room.
If you’re wondering is it safe to run air purifier 24/7, you may need to consider the environment in your home. If you have furry friends hanging out, pet dander may circulate in the air and reduce the amount of fresh air. Air may also get polluted if you live in an area with heavy traffic, causing gas formed by the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline from vehicles to enter your home. The emissions from vehicles can trigger health problems such as aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses.
The type of air purifier you use depends on the size of your room. Check out some of the best air purifiers for large rooms if you’re looking to clean a large space.
Uses HEPA Filter for Maximum Efficiency
A HEPA filter is a mechanical filter that can remove at least 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with 0.3 microns (µm).
An air purifier with this filter ensures high-efficiency performance that filters out pollutants to provide a clean environment. It targets various pollutants and can also reduce allergy symptoms for many people.Other devices such as air cleaners may also use HEPA filters, but it is essential to understand the difference between air cleaner and air purifier before choosing a device for your home.
Boosts Indoor Air Quality for Better Health
Many factors contribute to unhealthy air circulation in a home, and an air purifier explicitly targets those pollutants to improve your air. Inhaling clean air allows your body to function better and reduces the risk of respiratory issues.
The air quality in your home also depends on the type of air purifier you choose. An air purifier aims to capture harmful particles before they sit on your furniture, carpet, and other home elements. Some devices trap articles while air runs through them, while others may focus on neutralizing the particle instead of filtering them first.
To ensure that your air purifier is efficient, you can use an air quality monitor. There are many benefits of an air quality monitor as it allows you to identify if your air is clean.
How Air Purifiers Work
They Work Around the Clock for 24 Hours
When they purchase a purifier, a common question is, can I run the air purifier 24/7? Air purifiers are designed to continuously clean the air, allowing you to keep it running at all times safely. The best air purifiers clean the air within 30 minutes, but this timeframe can vary depending on the size of the room and the device’s reach limit. Keeping it on all day allows the device to continue cleaning every time pollutants appear in the air.
There are no perceived disadvantages of running your unit all the time. However, the best way to maximize an air purifier’s effect is by letting it operate 24/7. You may need to ventilate your home by opening windows and doors sometimes to reduce indoor pollution.
Fan Speed Impacts Overall Efficacy
An air purifier’s fan speed is an essential element contributing to its effectiveness. The fan speed determines how quickly the device cleans the air.
You can measure the air purifier’s efficiency by finding out its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). The rating specifies how fast the air purifier can remove pollutants from the air in a room. The higher the rating, the better the device is at its job, which can help you choose the perfect air purifier for your home.
Deciding how often to run an air purifier is crucial for maximizing its efficiency. Although it is safe to run it 24/7, keep it on for at least 12 hours a day if you’re unable to do that.
Carbon Filter Removes Gasses
Many air purifiers use carbon air filters to remove gasses and combat volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from common household products. Carbon filters are great at trapping gas molecules, so air purifiers are successful at their job. Ensuring that an air purifier is efficient is by maintaining an activated filter appropriately. You could improve airflow and change your carbon filter when needed.
Carbon filters also do an excellent job at removing unpleasant odors inside the home. Mechanical air purifiers that only filter air particles may not remove all odors, so carbon filters are better suited for the task.
Tips to Increase Air Purifier Efficiency
Keep It On 24/7
One common question circulating air purifier efficiency is, can I leave my air purifier on 24/7? As mentioned in this guide, it is safe to run your air purifier all the time.
Running your air purifier all day and night allows the device to clean the air and tackle pollutants as they occur continuously. Air purifiers can clean the air within 30 minutes but could also take up to two to three hours for larger spaces. However, the air may get contaminated again and start circulating in the room, so keeping it on all the time reduces that risk.
Place It in An Appropriate Location
People often wonder if an air purifier should be on the floor. You can place bigger air purifiers on the floor, but smaller ones work best when placed on a table. It can be challenging for smaller devices to work from below.
Knowing where to place your air purifier can help you maximize its potential. You can increase the efficiency of an air purifier by up to 20 percent by placing it correctly. On the other hand, the wrong placement can lead to a loss of 50 percent of the overall air purifier capacity. Try to place the unit in a clear area without obstructions or items blocking its way.
Close Windows & Doors for Maximum Power
It is good to have some airflow in your home as keeping all windows and doors closed for too long can be harmful. Air purifiers can work decently even with a window open. However, people often wonder if they should run their unit with the window open as they don’t want to take the risk of inviting in more pollutants.
To achieve maximum power, you can close windows and doors most of the time. Let outdoor air in occasionally, but don’t let air in for too long.
Create a Routine to Clean or Replace Filters
The filters in air purifiers can clog dirt and other particles when cleaning the air. If the pollutants stay inside the filter for too long, the air purifier may not work as well in the long term. The best way to prolong an air purifier’s life is by creating a routine to clean or replace filters as necessary.
You can read the owner’s manual for instructions or check the unit checked by a professional to determine when it is dirty.
FAQ About Running the Air Purifier
Should I Turn Off My Air Purifier at Night?
Knowing how long to run an air purifier in the bedroom is essential when attempting to keep your home safe. It is generally okay to leave the air purifier on all night and allow it to work while you sleep. Breathing in clean air may also help you sleep better.
It would be best if you didn’t keep your air purifier on at night when you own an ozone air purifier. An air purifier emitting ozone presents health hazards and should be turned off when people are present in the room.
How Long Should I Run an Air Purifier for Best Results?
If you’ve chosen to add an air purifier to your home, the first question is, can I run the air purifier 24/7? You should run an air purifier for at least 12 hours a day for the best results. However, it is safe to keep it running all day and night.
Air purifiers are generally created to clean your home without overheating continuously. Keeping the air purifier on keeps the air constantly clean and free from airborne irritants. Many new air purifiers come with advanced features to automatically turn on when polluted indoor air.
Do Air Purifiers Use a Lot of Electricity?
As an air purifier owner, you might wonder how much electricity an air purifier uses. The exact amount of power required by your air purifier depends on its kilowatts and how often you keep it on. Air purifiers don’t generally use a lot of electricity so that you won’t receive unexpectedly high bills.
Use an air purifier energy consumption calculator to get a more accurate idea of how much electricity your unit uses. You’ll need to know your air purifier’s wattage and the cost of electricity in your area to calculate this cost.
Conclusion
If you’ve been wondering is it safe to run the air purifier 24/7, this guide should steer you in the right direction. Since the risks and costs associated with running the device at all times is low, you should always keep it on for the best results.
Even if you decide not to run the air purifier 24/7, try to keep it on frequently to eliminate airborne particles that might harm your home members. An air purifier can help you breathe without stress and improve indoor air quality, and all you have to do is switch it on!
