The 7 Common Issues in Air Purifiers: How to Fix Them Fast

Air purifiers work to remove pollutants, allergens, and microorganisms from the air. By doing so, we don’t inhale them into our lungs. Breathing in the allergens, microorganisms, and pollutants will affect your health.

Pollutants from indoor sources include cooking odors, cigarette smoke, VOCs, dust, and dust mite debris. Common pollutants that find their way indoors from outdoors include particulate matter (PM2.5), pollen, and wildfire smoke.

While air purifiers can improve indoor air quality and reduce air pollution, you may experience a few problems. These problems can range from sensors not working to filters producing odors and unresponsive controls.

Want to know how to troubleshoot your air purifier?

In this post, we’ll give you solutions to the 7 common issues in air purifiers to fix them fast.

Jump to:

1. Air Purifier does not Turn ON
2. Controls are Unresponsive
3. Air Purification is not Working Well
4. Air Purifier is Making Unusual Noises
5. No Proper Airflow
6. Strange Odor Coming From the Purifier’s Outlet
7. Air Purifier is Making Beeping Sound

1. Air Purifier does not Turn On

If the purifier is not turning on after pressing the power button, check the power cord. Is the cable plugged in? If not, plugged it into the proper power outlet. Another possible cause could be a damaged outlet.

Try plugging in the power cord in another outlet. Still not working? The other possible cause is the incorrect power rating. Power rating is the total electrical power needed for the regular operation of the purifier. To ensure the proper operation of the purifier, make sure the outlet has the correct rating.

In case of a damaged power cord, discontinue using the purifier and contact the brand’s support team.

2. Controls are Unresponsive

Modern air purifiers have touch controls or push buttons. At times, the controls may not respond. Possible causes include the air purifier is not plugged into an outlet, or the filter cover is not placed correctly.

If the power cord is not plugged in, connect to an outlet with the correct power rating. For the filter cover, properly replace it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

At times, the source of the unresponsive controls could be the controls malfunctioned. If you identify this to be the problem, disconnect the purifier from the outlet. Contact the brand’s support team for help.

3. Air Purification is not Working Well

The primary purpose of an air purifier is to clean the air and remove pollutants. So, if air purification is not working well, you and your family will breathe in unfiltered air.

There are a couple of reasons why this may happen. They include:

• Indoor air quality is terrible.
• Room coverage is too large.
• The dust has built upon the filters.
• Objects are blocking the air intake and outlet.
• The air purifier is close to the corner.

If the air quality is awful, ventilate the room before using the purifier. Once you start using the purifier, close the windows and doors. All air purifiers have defined room coverage. If you use it in a larger room, the results will not be pleasing.

Always use an air purifier according to the recommended room coverage. Most pre-filters are washable. To get rid of the dust and improve air purification, toss it in a laundry machine or vacuum.

If objects are blocking the purifier’s air intake and outlet, change the purifier’s location. Also, avoid placing it in a corner.

4. Air Purifier is Making Unusual Noises While Running

You may detect unusual noises when the purifier is in operation. Possible causes could be the presence of a foreign object inside the unit. Do not open the unit.

Power off the purifier, disconnect from the outlet and contact the support team.

5. No Proper Airflow

Are you experiencing reduced airflow from your air purifier? You probably did not remove the filter packaging. Check to see if the packaging is still on and remove it.

If this was not the issue, check the fan speed. If the fan speed is low, change the setting. You can do so by pressing the fan speed control to adjust fan speed or auto mode. Auto mode works together with the air quality sensor to detect pollutants and remove them by increasing fan speed. To keep the auto-fan-speed-settings functional, clean the dust sensor regularly.

Still, experiencing reduced airflow?

The air purifier does not have enough clearance. Basically, the air intake and outlet are close to objects. To improve airflow, we recommend changing the location of the purifier.

Make sure it’s at least 15 cm from any object, including the walls.

6. Strange Odor Coming From the Purifier’s Outlet

The air outlet of a purifier should be distributing clean, fresh air in the room. If you detect a strange odor, it means odors or heavy smoke are present in the room.

The smoke and odors may be originating indoors from cooking or smoking cigarettes. It may also arise from outdoors, which is common with wildfire smoke.

You need to know that heavy smoke and odors can degrade the performance of the filtration system. Before running the air purifier, ventilate the room. Keep the windows and doors open for half an hour to an hour. Once the smoke clears, close the windows and run the air purifier.

It’s also essential to install a vent hood in the kitchen. The vent hood helps to clear the cooking odors and any smoke or fumes from your cooking.

Also, the HEPA filter of your air purifier can be the source of the musty smell. If the filter is not replaced or cleaned regularly, it can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. To avoid this, be sure to replace or clean the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If the air purifier has a deodorizing (activated carbon or other types) filter, this could also be a strange odor source. The filter can become clogged with chemicals and gases, and actually start to smell bad.

You can reactivate the carbon filter using the UV rays from the sun. Just place the filter in direct sunlight for a few hours. It will not only remove the smell but also increase the effectiveness of the carbon filter.

If it doesn’t work, get an original deodorizing filter from the manufacturer’s website and replace the old one.

7. Air Purifier is Making Beeping Sound

If your air purifier is making a beeping sound, it may be because the filter needs to be replaced or cleaned. Check the ‘Filter Indicator Light’ to see if it is lit up. If so, it’s time to replace or clean the filter.

If the beeping noise continues after replacing or cleaning the filter, make sure you have reset the ‘Filter Changing Alert’ according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Also, make sure the filters are correctly installed in order. Also, fit the cover properly.

If the beeping noise persists, contact the manufacturer for assistance.

Final Thoughts

There you have it. The most common issues that affect your purifier’s performance, possible causes, and solutions. It’s essential to keep in mind that most problems that plague your air purifier arise due to poor maintenance.

If you do not clean your purifier or replace the filters as instructed, the purifier’s performance will reduce. Always vacuum the intake grill, pre-filter, and the body of the purifier. Before replacing a filter, purchase the original from the manufacturer’s website. Using genuine filters ensures the purifier continues to deliver clean, fresh air in your home.

Never open the unit before reading the owner’s manual. Always contact the support team before opening the air purifier.