Cleaning and maintaining the filter element of the air purifier is an important step to ensure the efficient operation of the equipment and extend the service life. Here are some detailed methods and suggestions:
1. Clean the filter element
1. ** Pre-filter (initial effect filter) **
- ** Disassembly ** : Different brands of air purifiers, the disassembly method of the front filter is different. It is generally removed by pressing the clip, rotating or sliding. For example, some purifiers have a latch switch, after pressing the latch, the filter can be easily extracted; Others are removed by turning a knob at the bottom of the filter. During the disassembly process, be careful not to exert too much force, so as not to damage the filter or other parts of the equipment.
- ** Cleaning method **
- ** Water ** : If the pre-filter is not particularly dirty, and the material allows (such as plastic, metal mesh, etc.), you can rinse with water. Place the filter under the faucet, rinse with moderate water pressure, and gently rub the surface of the filter by hand to remove dust and impurities. For stubborn stains, you can use a small amount of neutral detergent, but be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid detergent residue.
- ** Vacuum ** : If the filter is dirty or not suitable for washing (such as paper filter parts), you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean. Choose the low power of the vacuum cleaner, close to the surface of the filter, to suck up dust. Be careful to maintain an appropriate distance to prevent the powerful suction of the vacuum cleaner from damaging the filter.
- ** Dry ** : The pre filter after cleaning needs to be fully dry. If it is a washed filter, do not use heating equipment (such as hair dryer, heating, etc.) to dry quickly, because high temperature may cause deformation or damage to the filter. It is best to put the filter in a well-ventilated place to dry naturally, generally takes 24-48 hours, the specific time depends on the ambient humidity and temperature.
- ** Reinstall ** : After ensuring that the filter is completely dry, follow the reverse steps to install the filter back to the air purifier. When installing, ensure that the filter is installed in place to ensure its tightness to prevent unfiltered air from entering the purifier.
2. **HEPA filter (HEPA filter) **
- ** Check whether it needs cleaning ** : HEPA filter is mainly used to filter tiny particles, its aperture is very small, can effectively block bacteria, viruses, pollen and so on. In general, frequent cleaning of HEPA filters is not recommended, as it may damage the structure and filtration performance of the filter. However, if a small amount of visible dust is found on the surface of the filter screen, and the equipment instructions allow for simple cleaning, you can consider a very careful cleaning operation.
- ** Cleaning method (if allowed) **
- ** Using a compressed air tank ** : Buy a compressed air tank, point the nozzle at the other side of the HEPA filter (opposite the direction of the intake air), keep a certain distance (about 2-3 cm), and gently press the button to blow the compressed air towards the filter. Note that the air flow should be evenly blown across the surface of the filter screen, not too concentrated in a certain area, so as not to damage the filter screen. This process removes dust from parts of the screen surface.
- ** Gently pat ** : Take the HEPA filter to a clean, flat place and gently pat the side of the filter with your hand to remove the attached dust. However, it should be noted that the strength must be light to prevent damage to the fiber structure of the filter.
- ** Reinstall ** : After cleaning (if a cleaning operation has been performed), carefully install the HEPA filter back into the air purifier. When installing, pay attention to the direction of the filter screen to ensure its correct installation to ensure the filtering effect.
3. ** Activated carbon filter **
- ** Disassembly ** : As with the pre-filter, first turn off the air purifier and unplug the power, then find the location of the activated carbon filter and carefully remove it. Activated carbon filter is mainly used to absorb odors and harmful gases.
- ** Cleaning method **
- ** Simple beating ** : Because the main function of the activated carbon filter is adsorption, excessive cleaning will destroy its adsorption performance. If it is only slightly polluted, you can take the filter outside and gently pat it with your hand to remove dust and impurities on the surface.
- ** Replacement (if necessary) ** : If the activated carbon filter has been used for a long time, or the adsorption performance has decreased significantly (such as no longer effective odor removal), it is best to consider replacing the activated carbon filter.
- ** Reinstallation or replacement ** : If only a simple pat cleaning is performed and the filter is not damaged, the activated carbon filter can be reinstalled back into the device. If you decide to replace the activated carbon filter, purchase the appropriate filter according to the specifications of the equipment and replace it.
Two, maintenance of the filter element
1. ** Check ** regularly
- Check the condition of the filter element once a week or twice a week, including observing the appearance of the filter element for damage, deformation or obvious contamination. For the pre-filter, you can check whether its color is significantly darker, because this may be a sign of too much dust; For HEPA filters, you can check whether there is dust accumulation on the surface; For activated carbon filter, pay attention to whether it has odor overflow.
- Record the use time and replacement of the filter element. According to the use environment and air quality of the equipment, the service life of the filter element is estimated for timely replacement.
2. ** Keep the environment suitable **
- The air purifier should be placed in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and humid environment. The high humidity environment may cause the filter element to become damp, breed bacteria and mold, and reduce the filtration effect. At the same time, direct sunlight may age the filter material and affect its performance.
Avoid placing items with high volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content around the air purifier, such as newly renovated furniture, cleaners, etc., because the gases released by these items may increase the burden of the filter element and shorten its service life.
3. ** Fair use **
- Use the air purifier correctly according to the instructions of the equipment. For example, some purifiers have different working modes (such as sleep mode, strong mode, etc.), and the working intensity and way of the filter element may be different in different modes. Reasonable choice of working mode can extend the service life of filter element.
- Do not use the air purifier continuously for a long time. If the indoor air quality is poor, the use time can be appropriately increased, but attention should also be paid to giving the equipment and filter element "rest" time to maintain its good performance.
Through the correct cleaning and maintenance methods, you can ensure that the filter element of the air purifier maintains a good working condition, so as to effectively purify the air and protect people's health.