How to Clean a True HEPA Filter Air Purifier

Home HEPA air purifiers do not come cheap. They are investments that need to be cleaned so that they can continue operating properly. A true HEPA filter air purifier typically draws air in and passes it through one or two filters depending upon the quality of your air purifier. The first filter scrubs larger particles out of the air, the second filter cleans the smallest particles out of the air. The higher grade your HEPA filter the smaller particles the filter cleans and the more important cleaning your air purifier becomes.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. True HEPA filters are designed to filter small particles out of the air. They can clog easily if large particles are allowed to reach the HEPA pads. Make sure to clean or replace your outer filter, carbon filter, or pre-filter often to ensure only the smallest of airborne particles reach your HEPA filter.

2. Make sure your HEPA filter is scrubbing a room that it was designed to clean. A true HEPA filter is graded to scrub 99.97 percent of all airborne particles from the air for usually two to three years or for lifetime depending on the style. If your air purifier is scrubbing a room bigger than it was designed for or a room that has more particles than normal the filter will have to be replaced or cleaned more often.

3. Clean your HEPA filter by first turning off and unplugging your device. Remove the outer housing of your air purifier and remove the pads. The housing can then be cleaned with a cloth and or brush.

4. Clean the HEPA filter pad by vacuuming the outside of the pad with a vacuum cleaner hose attachment or powerful hand-held vacuum. Cleaning the pads of a true HEPA filter is very important to the quality of your in-home air and it should be done every few months to ensure optimal cleaning power.

5. Replace the HEPA filter and the fresh pre-filter or carbon filter and return to normal usage. This routine cleaning should be done more often in cases where the air purifier is working harder such as in larger rooms, dirty rooms, or near windows and doors.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your purifier outside as the dust and particles will contaminate your indoor air quality during cleaning the HEPA pads.

• Each air purifier is a little different. Consult your owner's manual for specific hazards applicable to your device.

• Never clean your air purifier with it running or plugged into the wall.