Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Air purifiers have taken over the market by storm. Due to how much hype is around these smart home devices, you might have gotten yourself one. And after using it for a long time, you might have noticed a red light popping up. Wondering why does my air purifier turn red after seeing the LED light?
Well, the apparent answer for most air purifiers is that the air filter is clogged. And the red LED is signaling you to clean or replace the filter. It can also mean that the local air pollution level is too high for the air purification device to handle. But, the real question is, how will you settle for one or the other? Read to find out!
What Is the Red Light Indicator on the Air Purifiers?
Before we get to offering you a concrete answer to your question of why does my air purifier turn red, you must understand what the red indicator is there for. Well, the red light indicates some type of maintenance issue for most of the air purification devices.
But the thing is, no matter what the maintenance issue is, the red light will go away for most of the devices if you clean out or replace the filter. However, sometimes, the red light might not clearly indicate the issue. The light might still be on even after you change or clean the filter. In that case, you need to go through the manual.
How to Troubleshoot Air Purifier Red Light Issue
As we mentioned earlier, the red light issue can mean a couple of different things. So, instead of worrying about it and thinking — why is my air purifier red, go through these troubleshooting steps:
Step 1: Check the Air Filter
The main reason why the LED of the air purifier goes red is because of the air filter. When it gets clogged, requires cleaning, or needs a replacement, the indicator light of the air purifier will emit red light. So, when you see the red light, open up the air purifier and look at the filtration unit.
If the issue was because of the filter, it should be clogged or extraordinarily dirty. Replace or clean the filter and check whether the LED light still remains red or not.
On that note, some of the air purification devices will emit an orange light instead of red. That would state that the air filter is close to needing some cleaning or maintenance.
Step 2: Check the Purifier
If the air filter is not dirty or if you have changed it and the light is still there, you need to check on the purifier and the air around it. Sometimes, the red light can indicate that there are too much of air pollutants around the area. For example, if there is an active wildfire around you, the light of the air purifier will go red.
But why? Well, when too many pollutants are in the air, the purifier will struggle to clean the air around you. As some rooms might be less polluted, you can move the device to a different location to fix this issue. However, if the space is rather large, it might be time to invest in a more capable and large air purification device.
Step 3: Reset the Sensor
Rarely the device might emit the red light without any specific reason. Sometimes, the logic board of the air purifier can malfunction and make the LED light put out wrong indications. So, if the above steps do not work out for you, you should reset the sensor.
To do so, hold down the red button, reset, or power button for several seconds. Depending on the model you have, the light should start to flash. Release the button and check on the LED light.
Frequently Asked Questions?
- Why is my Levoit air purifier red?
For Levoit air purifiers, the red light indicates that there are too many airborne pollutants in the indoor air. And if you have the Auto Mode turned on, the device should switch the fan to a high speed and run until the red light turns blue or green. After that, the device should automatically run the fan at a slower speed.
- How often should I replace HEPA filters on my air purifier?
For HEPA filters, we advise replacing them every six months. They will work the best with that filter replacing period. That said, if your room’s air does not get excessively dirty, you can stick to replacing the filter once a year.
- How frequently should I clean my air purifier’s activated carbon and electrostatic filters?
The good thing about the activated carbon and electrostatic filters is that they are washable. That means you can reuse them after giving them a thorough wash. And generally, you should stick with cleaning them once a month. Holding them under running water and cleaning them using a microfiber cloth should do the trick.
- Are HEPA filters efficient?
HEPA filters are capable of eliminating up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in size or higher. Considering that, you can say that HEPA filters are highly efficient.
Final Words
Are you still wondering why does my air purifier turn red? In short, the red light is probably indicating you to change the air filters of your device. It might also be stating that the air pollution level in the room is too high. And if you want to fix it, you need to go through the troubleshooting steps discussed above.
