We’re a Canadian family who moved to Indonesia for two years. Needless to say, Indonesia is a nice country with friendly people and amazing food that makes our mouths water. We didn’t have much cultural shock, except the air. Canada is country where people grow up with clean air. But here, roads are filled with vehicles and motorcycles, and the air is heavily polluted.

We have three young kids and as a mom I know clean air is so much important to them. I decided to be more proactive. If I cannot control outdoor air quality, at least I can make our indoor more enjoyable. We installed air purifiers at home. With years of user experience, I have summarized several ideas of maximizing the filter’s effectiveness.

1. Run the system 24 hours per day.

It is a common misunderstanding that cleaning the air is a one time “event”. We should know air in is always in a state of constant change adding particles, microorganisms and gases into its space continuously. Thus, choose an air system that is designed for low power consumption, so you can run the system 24/7 without a surprise to your electricity bill.

2. Close your windows and doors

Just like an air conditioner, to work air purifiers efficiently you need to seal off the place where the system is working for the best result. This is especially important for people using the air purifying system to ease night-time asthma or allergy attacks. Second, don’t use the purifier in a room bigger than the recommended room size. Ensure that the unit is used to clean the air in a room appropriate for its capacity.

3. Change filters periodically according to recommended instructions

Changing filters regularly is essential to maintain their efficiency, airflow and the overall cleaning performance. Remember, air purifiers drop their capacity when the filter media is clogged from prolonged use.

Check the filter replacement interval with your filter supplier. You’ll save time and effort.

By then, fresh air!