How Long to Run an Air Purifier? Can You Run Air Purifier All the Time?

How Long to Run an Air Purifier

If you are a newbie to using an air purification unit, you may be curious how long you can leave it running to get the best results or how efficient air purifiers function. Do not worry! We have gathered intel and clarified some of the most often asked queries around air purifier runtime.

If you are a new kid in the block to the spectrum of air purification or a seasoned pro looking for some advice- you might have bumped into the right page. Pat yourself on the back!

People who are about to procure their first air purification unit have some questions about which model to buy and how to use it. One of the most popular is, “Should I leave my air purifier on all the time?”

In this article, we will explore whether or not operating an air purifier 24 hours a day is a good idea or not.

When you turn off the air purifier, the air in your room will become contaminated again, and you will have to repeat the air cleaning and maintenance stages. As a result, if you can afford to keep the air purifier running all year long, please do so!

However, if you are away from home most of the time and realize that you could save money by turning off your air purifier, you can get an intelligent air purifier that will turn on an hour before you arrive home. This way you will always have a clear, healthy bubble of fresh air as soon as you reach home.

Can I run my air purifier all the time?

It is a widespread belief that running the purification unit for an hour or two would clean the air enough. Air purifiers, on the other hand, are intended to be used for extended periods.

Humans, pets, air conditioning and heating systems, and frequently open windows add new pollutants into the room. The straightforward answer would be a “YES”- of course, you may keep the air purifier running all the time.

As an optimal solution, the best option is to run the air purifier 24 hours a day. However, this can result in exorbitant prices. Not to mention that the filters and the system would be worn out by the passage of time.

So, based on the extraction rate of the air purifier you’re using, you can vary the time the device is on.

The amount of air that the system can clean in an hour is referred to as the extraction rate. The extraction rate of a specific device should be about 6 air changes per hour.

You could operate your air purifier for around 10-12 hours a day using this knowledge. However, the amount of time your air purifier runs may be determined by the make, model, and form of the air purifier.

Is it safe to run the air purifier all the time?

There had been no cases of any adverse effect on anyone’s health by the overutilization of an air purifier. We may conclude that it is safe to use your air purification unit all the time.

On the contrary, you do not need to leave your air purifier on all day, mainly if you are not home. You might, for instance- leave the device running overnight to enhance the quality of your sleep.

However, you might turn it off before leaving the house in the morning. Switching the fan to a lower setting is another way to save energy when letting the unit operate at night- which will ensure you save electricity and make the air purifier run more quietly. 

The number of hours you need to operate your air purification unit also depends on the seasonal changes. In the summertime, for example, the amount of pollen in the air increases dramatically. As a result, you will need to run your unit for more extended periods at this time.

Often use the air purifier in places where you sleep, work, or play, as well as in any other actively utilized spaces of your home. Furthermore, suppose you are not using the air purifier to minimize allergies.

In that case, you might leave the windows open if the weather permits- which might help to vent out the smoke and other undesired airborne particles.

You can also extend the life of your air purifier by addressing allergies in your home at the source – dusting and vacuuming regularly.

What happens if I keep the air purifier running longer?

On average, it takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for your air purifier to purify the air in a building. After 20 minutes of running an air purifier, you can note a difference in the air quality in the building.

The extraction rate (air changes every hour), model type, and room size that needs to be purified all play a role in how effective an air purifier is. The extraction rate is the amount of air that can be extracted from a room in an hour.

For instance, a HEPA air cleaner operating at 4 air changes per hour (15 minutes per charge) will clean the air half the time of an air cleaner utilizing two air changes per hour. 

The speed at which an air purifier works is often affected by its location and the weather. Since more toxins, such as pollen, an air purifier must run for a more extended period to disinfect it in the air during the summer. Finally, the air cleaner must have enough airflow capacity to fill the space.

Since the unit pushes air into its filters to clean it, the only way to ensure the best possible level of air quality in your living is to leave an air purifier on all the time. When you turn off your air purifier, it stops filtering the air in that region.

Since air will begin to circulate naturally, new pollutants will eventually work their way in, restoring the quality of air in your living area to its usual level within a reasonably short period.

If you keep your air purifier on all the time, the air will be constantly filtered in and out, and new pollutants will be eliminated as they are added.

Some people run their air purification unit intermittently in an attempt to save money on their energy bills. However, this concept is generally based on the notion that air purifiers use a great deal more energy than they do.

By continuously operating your air purifier, you can keep the air in your home clean and prevent new pollutants from accumulating. Contrary to the common saying, using an energy-efficient air purifier all the time would not significantly increase your monthly power bill.

At what speed should you run the air purifier?

We recommend that you operate an air purifier at low speeds 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The majority of air purifiers have an auto mode. This feature functions in tandem with the air quality system.

If the air quality sensors sense a rise in contaminants in the air, the AIR purifier will operate at maximum capacity. The majority of air purifiers have one to three fan speeds. The purification unit cleans the room faster if the fan speed is tweaked to the max setting.

The air quality system continuously monitors the quality of the air. If it detects no contaminants in the air, it will reduce the purifier’s pace. The air purifier will whisper quietly at this speed.

It will also use less energy, as opposed to the maxed-out fan speed. Consider the following “how to” to attain best results:

Step 1:

When using an air purifier in polluted air ( say you have just switched it on after a gap of 5-6 hours), please turn it on and set the speed to the max- and this should last at least 1-2 hours. It is highly dependent on the coverage of your air purifier.

If your air purifier is meant to cover 450-500 square feet, it will take around an hour to cover half of that area. We highly recommended that you run it twice to cover the entire living area fully.

Step 2:

After cleaning the air, you can reduce the speed of your unit to medium or low to keep the ambient air clean.

If you want to keep your air purifier running at medium or low speed, you would not have to bother about switching it off!

If you must leave your home for an extended time, consider turning it off; however, when you return- you must repeat #Step 1 before setting your air purifier to the medium or low setting.

Never turn off your air purifier at night. Simply because you are still breathing while sleeping.

If you want to get a sound sleep of an exuberant caliber, the air you breathe while dreaming is essential.

By turning on the air purifier, you can get rid of bacteria, pollen, and dust while sleeping and improve your sleep quality. As a consequence, we strongly advise you to keep your air purifier on while sleeping.

Final Words:

Many people believe that operating an air cleaning machine for a few hours would provide you with fresh air for the rest of the day. That is not the case since airborne contaminants never stop, and an air purifier is built to run continuously.

When an air purifier is turned off, airborne pollutants begin to accumulate, and your room becomes polluted once more.

The whole air-cleaning process will have to be repeated, and it will take some time to produce the best results. The only disadvantage of continuously running an air cleaner is the cost.

Expect higher energy costs and filters that wear out faster, necessitating more frequent filter replacement. But, in the end, it’s a small price to pay for a better, happier you. 

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