8 Best Replacement Filters for Air Purifiers – 2023 Guide

Once the filter inside air purifier is saturated completely, it starts releasing the pollutants that is trapped on the surface back to the surrounding air. Hence, it is very important to clean and replace the filter regularly. This post has best replacement air purifier filters along with detail buying guide to ease the task.

Replacement frequency varies based on the air quality, water quality, frequency at which you use the air purifier. However, most of the air filters require frequent replacement of the filter. Also the type of filter is a factor as well.

List of Replacement Air Purifier Filters in India

Review of Best Replacement Air Purifier Filters

Let us review each air purifier filters in detail. As we posted in our earlier article, there are research backed air purifying plants which can complement your effort to breath fresh air at home.

1. Atlanta Healthcare HEPA Air Purifier Filter Set

With a 7 Stage filtration  process, the Atlanta Healthcare is a perfect fit for your Beta 350 Air Purifier.

This filter set consists of a anti-bacterial filter, HEPA, Photocatalytic Filters and Activated Carbon for additive filtrations.

Combined, these can remove any allergens, air borne virus/bacteria/fungi, pollen or any volatile organic compounds in the air. The filter has a capability of even filtering particles as small as PM 2.5 and PM 10 type air pollutants too.

When the air enters, the pre filter clears out any visible and large particles like allergens after which the Antibacterial and HEPA filters work their magic. The activated carbon filter decomposes any harmful gases from the air and then the Photocatalytic Oxidation Filter makes sure that there are no allergens and removes them if any.

The Atlanta Air filter comes with a 1 year manufacturing warranty. It is advised that if you are living in a metropolitan city, you need to change your air filters once every 8 months at the least and clean out the filters once every 3-4 weeks or so.

Pros: Good things

• 7 different filtration stages
• Can even clear out PM 2.5 and PM 10
• 1 Year manufacturing warranty
• Ideal for small to mid sized rooms

Cons: Poor things

• None to mention

2. Philips FY3433 NanoProtect 3000 Series True HEPA 3 Filter

The Philips FY4344 is a HEPA 3 filter with Nano particles filtration protection. This assures you of 99.97% of purification of all the air that goes through it.

With the ability to filter out particles as small as 0.3 or 0.02 microns too (particles which are about 100 times smaller than PM 2.5.

The filter is capable of removing dust, pollution, dust mites, viruses, allergens and bacteria too. Depending on the pollution level in your home and how much you use it, the filter has a lifespan of about 2 years.But it is suggested that you replace this filter once every 8-12 months.

With a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty on the product, this filter is only suitable for the Philips FY3433 Air Purifiers.

Pros: Good things

• 99.97% purification
• Nano Protection HEPA filter
• Can filter up to 0.3 and even upto 0.02 micron particles that are 100 times minute than PM 2.5
• Easy to install
• 2 Years manufacturer’s warranty

Cons: Poor things

• Is compatible with only the Philips FY3433 Air Purifier

3. Philips NanoProtect Activated Carbon Filter for Air Purifier

A filter that is compatible with the Philips FY3433 Air Purifier, the Activated Carbon Filter is an economic alternative to the nano filter which is equally effective but has lesser lifespan than its nano counterpart.

The filter has a honeycomb structure of the activated carbon. This has an absorption capability of about 20 football fields.

With such capabilities, it can easily filter out and provide you with protection against the harmful TVOC elements and unpleasant odours.

Easy to install and maintain, the filter has a lifetime of upto 1 year but depending on the level of pollution your home has, this may change. An unhealthy air alert on your air purifier will let you know when you have to remove and replace the filter.

The product comes with a 2 years manufacturer’s warranty and is only fit for the Philips AC3256 Air Purifier.

Pros: Good things

• 1 year lifespan
• Honeycomb activated carbon structure that help in reducing of TVOC levels and odours
• Easy to install
• 2 Years warranty
• Alert on the device would alert when to replace this filter.

Cons: Poor things

• Can be used only with the Philips AC3256 Air Purifier

4. Honeywell Lite Indoor HHPF20M936 Air Purifier Filter

Honeywell Lite Indoor is a 3 stage air filter from the house of Honeywell, a Fortune 100 company from the US.

The 3 stages of filtration consist of Pre filtration, which will remove all the pollen and other such allergens and then comes the HEPA. HEPA aids in the removal of miniscule and fine dust particles of the order 0.3 Microns along with any virus or other harmful substances in the air.

After this, the air goes through the honeycomb structure of the activated carbon layer. This will aid in the removal of any harmful organic and bacterial elements of the air and absorbs unpleasant odour, VOCs, formaldehyde and other toxic gases as such.

Easy to install thanks to its DIY structuring, you do not need any service engineer in order to install this. The life of this filter is about 2200 hours. That is, if you use it for about 8 hours a day, the filter could last for about 9 months too. Be sure to clean up the filter once every 3 or 4 weeks.

Pros: Good things

• 3 step filteration process
• Has pre filters, HEPA Filters and Activated carbon filter too
• HEPA can remove upto 0.3 microns particulates
• Has a life of about 2200 hours.

Cons: Poor things

• No warranty
• Does not specify the fit of the product

5. Philips True HEPA Filter AC414/00 for Model AC4025

Yet another Philips air filter, the AC40104/00 is a HEPA filter that is specifically built for the Philips AC4025 model air purifier.

As is the case with all the HEPA model filters, the Phillips True HEPA too is able to filter out finite dust particles, bacteria and allergens. A healthy air protect alert on the device gives you a warning when the filter needs replacement.

Easy to install and use, the filter may not have a huge life than expected but it serves its function pretty well. You may need to clean up the filter once every 3 weeks just to be able to reuse it later.

One of the other major drawback that we observed from this filter is that it may filter out heavy fibres, allergens and everything in between. But the backend of the filter may not be able to disperse as dust particles this is due to the edge of the filter having a small draft pushing capability. This means that there is a small chance of outside air getting inside without going through the filter.

There is a 2 years manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase on this filter similar to most of the philips products.

Pros: Good things

• 2 Years manufacturer’s warranty
• True HEPA filter
• Can filter out bacteria, allergens and finite dust particles
• Easy to clean
• Healthy air alert to warn when the filter needs replacement
• Needs cleaning every 3 weeks or so

Cons: Poor things

• May have a minor possibility of air entering through the back panel

6. Philips Activated Carbon Filter AC4103/00

The activated carbon filter AC4103/00 is the most economic filter that can be used for the Philips air purifier AC4025.

With the primary capability to filter out any harmful gases and bad odours, this filter can also be able to filter out large particles ranging from dust to human hair too.

Easy to install thanks to the DIY model of installation, the filter also has a compatibility to the healthy air protect alert on the purifier device which lets you know of when the filter needs replacement.

With a manufacturer’s warranty of about 2 years, this filter is a good buy for your Philips AC4025 air purifier. But the only problem with this filter is that unlike the HEPA model of the filter, you cannot reuse this fitler via cleaning. One needs to throw this out and buy a new one.

Pros: Good things

• Can filter out bad odours and smells
• Can filter even finite dust to hair follicles too
• A very budget friendly filter
• 2 years manufacturer’s warranty

Cons: Poor things

• Unlike HEPA filter, this needs a replacement once every 3-5 months or so.
• Does not have any pre filter function

7. Philips FY1410/10 Nano Protect Filter

Philips Nano Protect filter has the ability to not just filter out finite particles but also to clear out nano dust particles too.

A good fit for the Philips 1000 Series AC1215/20 air filter, this is one of the replaceable filters for that model.

The Nano Protect’s true HEPA filter gives you a great reassurance of clearing out about 99.97% of purification when you use this filter. That means, it could clear out particles which are as tiny as 0.02 microns i.e, particles that are 100 times tinier than PM 2.5.

While there is no warranty on this filter, you can easily use this filter for about 8-9 months with occasional cleaning out of the filter once every month or so.

Pros: Good things

• Nano particulate HEPA filtration
• Can even filter out particles that or of the size 0.02 microns
• Fit for the Philips 1000 series AC1215/20 air filter

Cons: Poor things

• No warranty

8. Philips FY1413 1000 Series Activated Carbon Filter

Finally we have the activated carbon filter is a budget friendly charcoal based filter that is a perfect fit for the Philips FY1413 1000 Series air filter.

This activated carbon filter has a nano protect in it with a certain honeycomb structure that provides effective filtration against odours and harmful TVOCs too.

The activated carbon has a vast absorption area. If it were to be able to get unfolded, it would have the capability of covering an absorption area that is almost equivalent to 20 football fields. This promises consistent and superior protection.

Similar to the nano HEPA filter for the same air purifier model, this one too does not come with any sort of warranty but is a decent product that needs replacement once every 6 months ideally.

Pros: Good things

• Can filter out any bad odours and harmful TVOCs
• Vast absorption area of about 20 football fields.
• Suitable to the Philips FY1413 1000 Series air filter

Cons: Poor things

• No warranty
• Cannot be cleaned and should be replaced once every 6 months

Buyer’s Guide for Replacement Air Purifier Filters

The filters in an air purifier are rated for up to 3,000 hours of operation. But that number may come down significantly when you are living in heavily polluted urban environments. For example, when using an air purifier in Delhi, you may have to replace air filters more frequently. Cities like Delhi and Gurgaon face constantly high air pollution during the winter months.

Remainder of the post will have important considerations and factors for buying best filter.

How air purifier filters work?

Air purifiers are designed to draw polluted air from the room. Air passes through a filter, or a series of filters, which traps harmful pollutants. Most air purifiers remove allergens like dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. As these pollutants are removed from the air, a fan sends the clean air back throughout the room. The clean air delivery rate (CADR) really depends on the model. Some air purifiers do a fair job of cleaning the air, while others deliver high quality air purification; it just depends on the brand and the air purification that you are seeking.

An air purifier’s filter is the key ingredient to high quality air purification. The filter traps the pollutants, and it is the key factor that determines the purity of the air flowing back throughout the room. Without a good filter, an air purifier is useless. It is also important to keep the filters replaced regularly. As a filter traps more pollutants, it becomes clogged, inefficient, and eventually useless. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your filters replaced as regularly as possible.

Which air purifier filters need replacement?

To know if the filter requires replacement or not, you must determine the type of filter used in the purifier. Some air purifiers come with a permanent or long-term washable filter. In these models, you will not have to worry about buying the replacement filter every now and then.

However, you should still clean these filters on a regular basis to maintain their effectiveness. You can either wash these filters or clean them using a vacuum cleaner regularly (once in 3 months, depending on the usage).

Even if the air purifier comes with either a washable, disposable, or permanent type filter, all the filters have a limited lifespan. They need to be either replaced or cleaned regularly as they require proper maintenance.

Some models of air purifiers notify you whenever it is time to clean the filter. However, one thing that you must be aware of is even the permanent filters need replacement over a period of time to run efficiently.

4 Factors that accelerate air purifier filter replacement

It is very important for you to know how to clean and maintain the air purifier at your home. The frequency at which you should replace the filter depends on multiple factors.

1. Indoor air quality of your house

If the indoor air is very dirty, the purifier’s filter will reach its maximum capacity too early. For instance, if your house is located along a busy road, it might be exposed to the pollutants and smoke that is emitted by cars or other vehicles. These pollutants can shorten the lifespan of the filter. If you have pets at your home or if you smoke inside the house, these factors can also shorten the lifespan of the filter.

2. Frequency of air purifier usage

If you use the air purifier throughout the day, it might need extra maintenance when compared to the units that are being used for only a few hours a day.

3. Quality of the water

The quality of the water at your house also has an impact on the lifespan of the washable filters. Tap water is generally rich in mineral deposits and if you clean the filter using tap water, it can reduce the life of the filter. These mineral deposits can cause harm to the filter resulting in unwanted clogging.

4. Type of air purifier filter

Some types of filters need to be replaced quite frequently than the others. You should clean the pre-filters regularly at least once in a month. While some purifiers use carbon filters to attract dust and allergens and neutralize odor, others use HEPA technology to trap even the tiniest allergens present in the air. For such filters, it might be difficult to understand what is the best time to clean them.

Thus, most of the purifiers these days come with special filter check indicators. It allows the users to know that it’s time to clean or replace the filter. However, you might not find this feature in all the models. In this case, you might have to rely on some other signs to figure out whether the filter needs replacement or not.

Signs that your air purifier filter needs a replacement

If the air purifier at your home does not come with a filter change indicator, these signs can help you determine if you should change the filter or not.

• You can see noticeable dust or dirt build-up coming out of the filter, in a distinct gray color.
• The house might seem dirtier than usual.
• You will notice a huge amount of pet dander in the air.
• You might notice increasing symptoms of asthma and allergy.
• There will be a different odor or smoke in the air.

In this case, your intuition can be very helpful. It is always best to clean or replace the filter as soon as you notice dirt or deposit build-up in the air as it can hamper the overall performance of the air purifier.

Filter replacement schedule

Here is a list of general replacement schedules for different types of filters. This schedule can give you a brief idea of how frequently you should replace the filter

If the manufacturer fails to provide correct information on the replacement cycle, you can check the type of filter used in the air purifier and follow this general guide to determine the lifespan of the filter.

Why should you change air purifier filters?

If you wish to maintain the efficiency of the air purifier, you should clean and change the filter at regular intervals. Some of the benefits of replacing the filters are:

• Using the air purifier with a clogged filter can slow down the entire cleaning process of the unit, making it hard for the purifier to finish its job. Changing the filters regularly increases the lifespan of the purifier.
• If not cleaned on time, you will be adding the collected dust and other debris from the filter back to the air.
• If the filters are clogged completely, the air purifier stops working completely.

How to extend lifespan of air purifier filters?

Some tips that can be helpful to you in the long run are:

• Clean the purifier and the air inlets properly using a soft and dry microfiber cloth properly. This will prevent the debris from accumulating inside the filter.
• Keep the area surrounding the air purifier clean to avoid unnecessary air clean-ups.
• Place the purifier in an open area to promote free inflow and outflow of air.
• Rather than using brooms to clean the floor, use mops. Using both dry and wet mops for cleaning can reduce the amount of dust particles flowing in the air significantly.
• Use the purifier in a closed space otherwise the filter can get worn out quickly.
• Use good quality dusting clothes so that most of the pollutants are trapped and removed effectively.

How to Clean Your Air Purifier Filter?

Depending on type of filter your air purifier machine uses, you need to clean it differently.

Cleaning HEPA air purifier filter

HEPA filters are available in disposable, washable, and permanent forms. It is easy to maintain washable or permanent filters. They can cut down on the replacement cost drastically. Disposable filters, on the other hand, need to be replaced after some time.

You should first check whether the filter that you have is a washable filter or a permanent filter. You should only dry-clean the permanent filters either using a brush or a vacuum cleaner. You shouldn’t wash it as it can get damaged.

You can rinse the washable filters in water and get rid of accumulated dirt.

Before trying to clean the HEPA filter, we suggest you to go through the manual properly so that you don’t end up damaging it.

We have explained how to wash permanent and washable filters properly in detail below.

Cleaning permanent HEPA filters

Here’s how you can clean the permanent filter at home without damaging it:

Step-1: Remove filters

Turn off the purifier and unplug so that it is safe to remove the filter. After turning the unit off, move it to a place where you get easy access to all the sides of the purifier.

Most models of the air purifiers come with a back cover that can be opened. It allows you to open and access the filters easily. If you are not sure how to remove the filter, check the manual, and follow the directions.

Before removing the filters out of the purifier, make sure that you cover the floor using plastic sheets. You can even take the purifier out to clean. As HEPA and pre-filters can hold a significant amount of dust, it is better you clean it outside so that the dirt does not fall on the ground.

Step-2: Clean the pre-filters

The permanent HEPA filters usually come along with a pre-filter and an activated carbon filter. You should remove and clean these filters too. Before washing any of these filters, you should check the manual properly.

You can rinse the pre-filter using water by simply placing it under the tap until you see clean water flowing through it. If it is a fine wire filter, be gentle while cleaning it and use a soft-bristled brush. You can even use a damp sponge to wipe either side of the filter.

While cleaning foam or carbon pre-filters, towel dry properly and let it dry for 24 hours.

You should vacuum clean the activated carbon filter gently and remove the dirt and dust. Don’t wash these filters. Simply clean both sides using vacuum in horizontal motions. If you feel that the carbon filter has absorbed a high amount of odor, you can even leave it under direct sunlight for around 1-2 hours.

Step-3: Vacuum clean the HEPA filter

To vacuum the HEPA filter, you can simply use a vacuum cleaner. The handheld vacuum cleaners are easy to use and clean.

Using a nozzle or soft brush attachment to the vacuum cleaner helps in cleaning the filter easily. It also prevents any damage caused due to vacuum. Use the vacuum in horizontal motions so that you get rid of the dirt and dust completely.

Be gentle while vacuum cleaning the filter. Don’t be hard while pushing the attachment into the filter. Rather than doing this, you can set the vacuum to a stronger suction. This will help in removing dirt that is embedded deeply.

Step-4: Reassemble everything back

Once you are done cleaning the pre-filters and the permanent HEPA filter, you can start assembling it back. Place the HEPA filter first, followed by the activated charcoal and the pre-filter at the end. If you are not sure if you placed it properly or not, check the manual for instructions.

Quick Tip: If you have washed the pre-filters and kept it for drying, cover the HEPA filter using plastic and store it somewhere safe so that it remains clean.

Cleaning washable HEPA filters

Before even trying to wash the HEPA filter, go through the manual properly and make sure that it is washable. Some manufacturers even provide the washing guide in the manual.

Some brands suggest you to simply rinse the filter in the water whereas some brands allow you to wash it using soapy water. Some washable HEPA filters are even dishwasher-safe.

If you didn’t get a manual or if you have misplaced it, you can check online for the instructions on the manufacturer’s website. Just check with the correct model number.

Step-1: Remove pre-filters

You can follow the same procedures as mentioned above in how to clean a permanent HEPA filter.

Step-2: Rinse smaller filters

After cleaning and drying the pre-filters, you can start cleaning the HEPA filter. You can clean smaller filters by rinsing under tap water in the bathroom or kitchen. For larger filters, you might have to rinse it using a water pipe or garden hose or under the shower.

If you have flat filters, wash both sides of the filter and get rid of dirt and other contaminants. If the purifier has cylindrical filters, rinse it only on the outside. Try to avoid getting the water inside the cylinder.

While rinsing the filter, try to avoid rinsing it in high pressure as it can cause damage to the filter. Turn on the tap at a low or medium flow and wipe the filter using your fingers. It will help in loosening the dirt.

Some manufacturers recommend washing the filter with soapy water. Some brands even suggest washing the filter with either cold or lukewarm water. You can check the manual for any such instructions.

Step-3: Dry them completely

You should let the washable HEPA filter air dry completely before you start reinstalling it. After washing the filter, shake it off to get rid of the excess water. Keep it against a wall so that it gets dried using fresh air from all the sides.

Quick tip: Never use a hairdryer or blow dryer to speed up the drying process. Doing this can damage the filter and is against the warranty policies too. Always let the HEPA filter air dry for some time.

Step-4: Reassemble them back

After all the filters are dry completely, you can start reinstalling them. Install the HEPA filter first followed by the rest of them. If you are not sure of the order, check the manual.

Air purifier filters – common questions

Over to You

We have reviewed seven best air purifier filters based on their make and customer feedback online. Additionally information here also should help you select best filter for your needs.

Among the listed, Atlanta HEPA filter tops the list – over 7 different filtration stages, 1 year manufacturer’s warranty and the ability to PM 2.5 and PM 10.

We will be glad to know your feedback and suggestions. Let us know which one is your best pick.