Air purifiers can turn off automatically because of clogged filters, contamination, overheating, or malfunctioning controls. Manufacturing defects or damaged wiring can also cause an air purifier to enter safe mode and turn off during use.
Air purifiers are absolutely essential devices amidst rising pollution. They clean the air by removing dust, allergens, and particulate contaminants. But air purifiers can develop technical issues, in particular, an air purifier turning off on its own is a common complaint.
This article covers all the causes that could be responsible for your air purifier turning off, and how to fix each one.
Reasons Why Your Air Purifier Keeps Turning Off
If your air purifier turns off automatically, read this list of all the reasons the issue might be stemming from:
1. Clogged Filters
Clogged filters are one of the primary factors that can lead an air purifier turning off.
An air purifier draws in air, which is then passed through a number of filters. Naturally, these trapped contaminants clog up the filters over time.
If the filters are not cleaned or replaced regularly, the dust and debris saturate the filter and move on to accumulate in other mechanical parts of the air purifier.
Since the dust, allergens, bacteria, and gasses can cause damage, modern air purifiers come with a built-in feature that turns the appliance off when the filters are clogged. This is done to prevent possible damage to the system.
If your air purifier is turning off every time it is run, the first thing to do is inspect all the filters and clean/replace them if need be.
Fix
There are three common filters found in air purifiers for large particles, a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter for gasses, and a HEPA filter that traps particles up to the size of 0.3 microns.
Cleaning and/or replacing the filters will help resolve the problem:
- The pre-filter and carbon filter are washable and should be cleaned with warm water every 3-4 months or sooner, depending on the level of pollution. Before washing them, you can also use a cotton cloth or a hand-held vacuum to remove dust.
- Remember to avoid bleach, detergent, soaps, or any volatile liquid as they can wash away the charcoal and render the filters ineffective.
- HEPA filters can be vacuumed and sometimes rinsed with lightly running room temperature water.
- We recommend checking your manual before washing the HEPA filters as some are not washable and should simply be replaced after 12 months or as indicated in the manual.
Refer to your user manual to locate each filter.
2. Overheating
Overheating can occur because of a range of reasons, but the primary factor is usually improper airflow.
Air purifiers have a fan that rotates to draw air into the system. If the airflow becomes inadequate due to a disproportionate room size, or some internal problem in the unit, the fan begins to overwork and overheat, and eventually, the whole system comes under stress.
Consequently, the fan motor burns out, and to prevent that, an air purifier will turn off automatically by switching to safe mode.
To confirm overheating is causing your problem, turn the air purifier off and allow it to completely cool down.
Plug the air purifier back in once the outer body of the unit starts feeling cold to touch, and then see if it starts working fine. If it operates without any interruption, the cause is overheating, and you should check in with a technician to find the underlying cause for it.
Fix
Air purifiers have a certain capacity that caters to specific room size. If your appliance is too small for the room, it impacts the airflow leading to issues and inefficient sanitization. You will need to replace the unit with a new one of adequate size to rectify the issue.
If the problem does not stem from excess airflow or lack thereof, clean the unit thoroughly in case dirt and dust are clogging the system, or preventing the fan from freely turning.
If in doubt contact a technician to diagnose the root cause of the overheating unit and have it repaired.
3. Malfunctioning Controls
If your air purifier is old or was recently damaged, it may have an issue of malfunctioning controls.
Over time, a few buttons can become unresponsive, or the control panel can be entirely destroyed. This interrupts the proper operations of the unit and can cause an air purifier to shut down.
Fix
If your appliance is under warranty, claim it for replacement. However, if the appliance is old, getting a new one rather than getting a technician to fix it will probably be more cost-effective in the long run.
4. Broken Wiring
During placement or maintenance, air purifiers can become physically damaged. This includes damaged or broken wires. When you turn the appliance on, consequently, the circuit breaks, and the appliance turns off.
Fix
You will need to call in a technician to open the unit up and inspect it for broken wiring. They will change the wires and check the appliance for any secondary damage.
Depending on the size and cost of your air purifier, it may be more cost effective to purchase a new one rather than repair the faulty unit.
5. Contamination
Debris trapped in a saturated filter can escape into the filter housing area and contaminate the air purification unit.
Apart from the filter, wires can also collect dust directly from the environment.
If an air purifier unit is not cleaned regularly, it becomes increasingly, and to protect the system from damage, the air purifier turns off on its own.
Fix
Every air purifier has a different design. Please read through your user manual for specific instructions on how to disassemble and clean your unit.
Generally, an air purifier can be cleaned by following these steps:
- Disassemble the air purifier.
- Clean it with a dry cloth and then vacuum taking particular care over any vent areas.
- Gently wipe with a cotton cloth if you find any hardened debris.
- Make sure the filters do not come in contact with any soap.
- Reassemble your air purifier.
6. Incorrect Wiring
Incorrect wiring is a manufacturing defect and is a common cause of malfunctioning in new air purifiers.
By purchasing a product from unlicensed vendors, you may end up with a substandard air purifier with wiring issues. This might not just lead to an automatic air purifier shut down but is also a serious fire hazard.
Fix
If your new system is shutting down after running for a while, consult an experienced technician to check for wiring problems. As part of prevention, it is always better to order appliances directly from the manufacturing company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the FAQs regarding air purifiers:
Should I Leave My Air Purifier On At Night?
An air purifier that produces ozone, even in small amounts as a by-product, should not be run at night. Ozone is a toxic and lethal gas, and although air purifiers generally produce it only within safe limits, any problem in ionizing wires may cause them to release excess ozone. If the Air Quality Index is higher than 150-200, you should leave the air purifier on at all times, if it is safe to do so.
To steer clear of the possible safety hazards like excess ozone discharge or fire, it is best to turn the air purifier off at night unless absolutely necessary, like in the case of extreme pollution.
Turning the air purifier off will allow contaminants from the outside environment to seep into, and accumulate in, the room.
While skimping on clean air is not an option, you need to also take into account the fact that air purifiers are electrical appliances, and their possible malfunctioning does pose a threat to life and property. Many air purifiers employ the release of ozone gas as it is an oxidant and helps kill microorganisms and reduce odor.
Also, since the appliance runs on electricity, a power surge may cause a short circuit resulting in fire. So as a precautionary measure, you should avoid operating the appliance at night.
Safety concerns aside, one cannot ignore the need for pure air, especially if you have people with pulmonary issues like asthma around. In these circumstances, it is paramount to gauge the air quality.
If the AQI (Air Quality Index) is higher than 150-200, you should leave the air purifier on at all times. However, you should frequently inspect the unit for an expired filter or a damaged power cord.
Nowadays, many great and safe alternatives to ozone air purifiers are available, which we’d recommend buying.
Plentiful Air has more information on the pros and cons of leaving an air purifier on all night available here.
How Long Should An Air Purifier Run?
To ensure the circulation of sanitized and healthy air, an air purifier should be operated for a minimum of 12 hours a day. However, if the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 150, it is best to keep the appliance operating all day.
As a general rule of thumb, companies recommend running an air purifier for at least 12 hours a day. But with the rising pollution and worsening AQI, especially at homes having children and patients with respiratory disorders, you need to ensure a healthy environment is maintained round the clock.
So measure the AQI and if it is more than 150, let the air purifier run 24/7. But for continuous operation, a regular service of the appliance is imperative.
Conclusion
We hope this post helps you identify the reason your air purifier is shutting off frequently. Go by the elimination method and check for all the reasons listed in the post in order. It’s best to buy a device with a warranty, so . Given the rising pollution, where most people need to run the appliance continuously, try to buy a unit that does not produce ozone to avoid any accidents.
