Air Cleaner Operation/Use & Care

We have a variety of different types of filters.  You can check which filter(s) will fit your air cleaner on the "What Filter Should You Buy" page.

Well...that depends on the conditions of your environment!

One of the great features of the Winix brand air cleaners is the use of Smart Sensors to detect the real conditions of the environment and adjust the fan speed accordingly.

So unlike other brands which simply use a timer, or tell you to replace them one time per year, the Winix brand air cleaner tells you to replace the filter when you really NEED to replace the filter: neither too soon (costing you money) nor to late (working ineffectively).

On "average" however, if you have a clean environment and therefore the unit mostly runs in a low speed you may get as much as 18 months of life from your filter.

If you have a challenging environment (such as cigarette smoke, pet odors, cooking odors, a lot of allergens in the air), and therefore the fan is running on high a lot, then you will probably get less life from the filter.

So the answer is... you change it when you really need to change it....and the "change filter" indicator light will remind you when it is the right time to do so.

Please refer directly to your manual.  If you have an air cleaner that uses a carbon pre-filter and HEPA filter you should place the HEPA filter in the air cleaner first, followed by the carbon pre-filter. 

If you use an Ultimate Filter, the tabs should be closest to you and the washable pre-filter pointing towards you as you place the cartridge in the unit.

Please refer directly to your manual.  The "Replace Filter" indicators are found on on the inside of the unit, just above the opening for the filters.  Please remove the front panel and follow the directions located on the sticker that should be affixed near the reset switch.

Note:  Some older models may not have the sticker.

Some "Yes" and some "No".

Following is a chart explaining the various types of filters and their proper care:

(NEED CHART!!!)

Of course you can! And we recommend doing so.

Because the unit uses smart sensors to adjust the fan speed, it will never be using more energy that is necessary to simply maintain a good environment.

If you leave the unit running it means that it will continuously be drawing in the room air and filtering impurities.

Some models ( 9300/9500 ) come with sensors to turn the unit to sleep mode when the lights are dim such as at night when you are sleeping, or when no one is home. You also always have the option of manually setting the unit to low mode. Models 5300 and 5500 come with a manual sleep mode function.

This is a hard question because everyone's situation and space is different.

A general rule however are to put it where it can have the best air flow, which means a little bit away from the wall and away from furniture and close to the middle of the room.... But let's be realistic: that is probably not where most people want to leave their air cleaner.

Our best answer however is to use it where you are going to spend the most amount of time (such as your living room or family room), or where you have the most concern about odors or allergens (such as in your kitchen or where your pets are), or where it helps you the most (such as in your bedroom when you are sleeping).

We hear a lot of answers from a lot of satisfied customers about where they use their Winix air cleaner... so check out our reviews section and see if any of their ideas apply to you!