This was helpful overall but one VERY IMPORTANT piece of information was missing! When taking off the silver circular panel, you need to be careful not to misplace the metal piece that is lodged in the top part of the panel. It is part of the sensor to indicate that the panel is closed. My metal piece fell out and I had no idea. After cleaning and closing the panel, my unit was no longer working because the sensor didn’t detect that the panel was closed. I had no idea what was wrong until the next day when my toddler brought the metal piece to me that she found on the floor! It is a small piece and easy to lose. It could have easily washed down the drain as well. I’m so thankful it didn’t.
This is a ridiculous piece of over-engineering and so frustrating - thank you for addressing this, Miyako! The magnet that fits into the silver panel is not held down by anything, and is not enclosed by anything. So the moment you take the circular panel off the front panel, the magnet will fall out! Took me an hour to find it as it fell into my tool drawer. So I taped it shut into the enclosure, and it's fine there, but save yourself the grief and be aware of this.
Aha! That’s what that little magnet is! I couldn’t figure out where it came from on the floor but stuck it on the fridge as it looked useful. (Took me a couple of days to finish cleaning the Coway...) So glad I saw this before going insane. Addendum: where exactly does it go? I thought I put it back right but when I plugged in the unit the lights flashed on and then died. I can’t think of any other reason.
@@flovid5656 It looks like a rectangular prism with rounded corners. I would suggest checking any metal where you were working because it's a really strong magnet. I actually use it to hold the two screws together when I'm cleaning so I don't lose them. Hope you find it!
Thank you to this video! We got two of these for our bedrooms last summer. After about 6 months of use, the odor filter lights went on, so I changed them. However a few weeks later the purifier in my kids' room, which is on the side of the room near the wall air conditioner, started being constantly red. When I moved it closer to the door of the room, it turned blue. I started freaking out that there was mold in the air conditioner, and my kids were breathing it in while they were sleeping. After watching this video, I realized I had not cleaned the air sensor on the purifier. (I didn't know it existed.) I just opened it up and it was relatively clean, but there was a tiny ball of dust in there. I wiped it off and restarted the purifier--blue! Yay! The air sensor was on the side of the purifier that faced directly toward the air conditioner. My guess is that the air stream from the air conditioner was pushing the ball of dust into the sensor and making it think the air was filthy. So glad I don't have to look into air conditioner cleaning, or buying a new one!
By far the best how-to video I’ve seen in a long time! Thank you for getting right to business and being thorough with your step-by-step instructions. Bravo!
Thank you for this information! Spot on. @Bootstrappin a tip you may enjoy so you never have to unscrew the grill panel, nor wait for parts to dry: use a damp bounce dryer sheet to remove dust, on the front cover grill, the clear mesh frame holding the charcoal filter, and body. You won’t have to unscrew the front part anymore. You won’t have to wash that first filter screen with water and wait for it to dry. Works way better than a vacuum! Just push the dryer sheet through fins to sweep off dust particles. Dryer sheet works best when you briefly rinse it with water, then squeeze it dry before use. The bounce brand is better at trapping dust )and repelling rodents) as it has an extra chemical in it that my preferred Downey brand does not.
I had this fan for 2 years now and for some reason it just kept staying on red after I cleaned it and it turned out to be the air sensor which I didn't know till now. I just cleaned it and everything is fine again, thank!
Hey - great video. Maintenance is important to me so this helped seal the deal for this purchase. Also - here's a tip from the tech repair world - use a stiff, broad paint brush. Like the kind you'd use on a wall. The bristles really get in there to agitate and remove caked on/greasy dust bunnies on non-removable grates, tight spaces, weird corners, and fan blades on computers all the time. Have a vacuum handy to get the resulting globs of "gunga".
Brilliant, thx! Who knew there was a sensor that had to be cleaned? So thorough! And! everything else one needs to know - how to change filters and reset them. One doesn't usually see thorough these days. Impressive.
Just here to second Miyako’s comment about the silver piece. I thought I had broken my coway and was not happy. The metal piece has a magnetic connection to the machine so you can just drop it in place and then snap the front cover back on the unit. Honestly I would just skip unscrewing the front cover and all of that. Mine had hardly any dust on it and the dust that was there I could have wiped off with a rag without taking it apart. I did really appreciate this video in general though. Thank you for taking the time to walk through how you clean yours.
Thank you, I truly appreciate your assistance with this, it was given as a present and my hubby has not cleaned it in two years, so I'm doing it myself. Now I know where to buy the replacement filter, thank you for posting the link. you are awesome, keep up the good work
this was the best video I could have EVER hoped to find. exactly what I was looking for and more. a NOT BORING, actually FUNNY video on how to clean the frickin' air filter. incredible! subscribed. thank you for making my day so much better! felt like one thing went right by finding this vid.
Loved the video, one important thing to add, as others have mentioned, is the potential for the small rectangular magnet that falls out when you take off the plastic cover. I had the hardest time figuring out how to replace it. It fits into the plastic cover perpendicularly and you have to force it in a bit. I tried to lay it flat on the machine and it wouldn’t close properly.
Thank you for the video! Can I ask another question? What about the vent on top of the machine and the vent inside of the machine (the one right next to hepa filter)? II had a soot problem and the whole machine is covered with grease inside out, I followed your instruction and cleaned the most of the machine, but I wasn’t able to clean the internal part of the purifier.
Unfortunately I don't have a good answer for those - if there's a way to remove the top vent, I haven't really found it. A towel with degreaser wrapped around a pencil or something similar like that could reach some of those areas.
@@hana992200 same! Only thing I've figured out is wrapping a wet towel around a pen/pencil and jamming it in. May work better with a bit of cleaner/degreaser on the towel.
QUESTION: Wondering IF anyone has located a generic HEPA & CHARCOAL filter replacement that works well with this unit. I'm on a very fixed income. Thank y'all!! Very thorough video. 👍👍👍
Thanks. I’m concerned there is mold in the back of my filter. My last home had a bizarre yellow mold that showed up on some things while they were in storage. I threw out things that couldn’t be cleaned off. I am thinking of throwing this out because this was an invisible mold that didn’t have a detectable odor and I don’t want this pushing mold out into my new house. Any alternative suggestion for cleaning it further? I also could run it outside for a few vile but not sure that would be good enough.
@@dreacdreac I see, that's a doozy. If I suspected mold inside the filter, I would unplug it, disassemble it completely, and wipe everything down with bleach solution while wearing a mold rated respirator. If you go that route, you'll need a screwdriver and some Ziploc bags. Take ample pictures as you take it apart so you know how everything goes back together, and put screws and any small pieces in labeled bags. I will add however that spores making it past the HVAC filter doesn't really seem likely. I'd just start by replacing all of that. But I do get the concern, especially if you don't want to "infect" the new house.
Hey, thank you- this is very cool and informative. Quick question, is it absolutely imperative that I actually replace the carbon filter? Can't I just clean/dust that as well, and put it back? I guess that one can't get wet? And if I do have to replace it, where do I get it and how much am I out for? Thanks again.
Thank you! I think the carbon filter loses effectivity the longer it is used because it bonds with odors, so vacuuming will only get rid of physical dirt, but it won't reactivate it. I just found getting it wet makes it stinky, maybe it starts to "release" the odors it bonded with. The filter replacement pack comes with two carbon filters, and it is $44 for Coway branded, and about half that for an off-brand. I usually buy them all on Amazon. Coway: amzn.to/3TTyo0u Off-brand: amzn.to/4cPSEJ0
That's actually a good question because there may be plastics/gaskets that deteriorate in contact with alcohol. If it was a problem, perhaps they'd mention it in the manual, but I couldn't say for sure. All I can say is that I've cleaned it this way for 5-6 years (not too often) and it hasn't caused problems. Water is probably the safest bet though.
i take the pre-filter outside and brush the dust off instead. i didn't bother disassembling the front panel since there weren't any clumps of dust in it. when i cleaned the pre-filter in the tub i got the filter and brush wet first, then put the soap on the bristles of the brush. this helped me distribute the soap better. brush in small circles to help get the brown buildup off. normally you're not supposed to do this but i used the rough side of a scotch brite to clean dust and clumps of cat hair off the black filter. since i bought it 6 months ago it's time to replace the deodorization filter anyway.
I'm sure they're fine. I personally only use the Coway stuff because I'm very happy to keep giving them money because I'm just very happy that it has been a super reliable product. But the off brand does save quite a bit of money.
@@Bootstrappin I've read some pretty bad reviews on the off brand ones. Some are useless. But I'm sure there's a decent one out there. I'm hoping to find one.
Wow! Done! They were not still wrapped in plastic, and regardless of running it for the last 40 days(?), it wasn’t that dirty. That just proves to me what a great machine it is. Cant tell you how many times my iPhone says it’s safe and then the machine turns red. I close my window or add another purifier to the room and it’s fine. Thank you!
I. have done all the steps in your video but my air quality light is still red. I've replaced the filters with new ones. Any clues what is going on? I have a Coway Airmega AP-1512HH. Thanks!
I don't remember if I put this instruction in the video, but have you tried opening the little door on the side and cleaning the sensor off with a cotton swab? That and vacuuming that cavity out can help if there's some dirt stuck on the sensor.
Omg I didn’t know this air purifier was so huge lol 🙈 How can you tell I did my homework before purchasing..🙄 Great video!! I can’t wait to get mine.. I’m going to watch this when It comes time to clean it!! 👏👏
Any time! I low key kinda like doing it. Huge compression ratio, crank the f**k out of low end EQ, get way too close to my condenser mic, and put on my best Don LaFontaine impression.
Thanks dude for this video and your awesome review video as well. Just got mine last week. Oh yeahhhhh! Loving it! Question about light cleaning, should you clean that dust vent what like every 2 weeks? What if you don’t have ethanol? Is water with a q tip cool?
Great video! Helped me during the first thorough cleaning today and my unit won't power back on. Pre-filter dry, replaced thin black deodorizer filter and HEPA filter. Any suggestions on what I should check? Technical support isn't answering.
Check to make sure you put the front cover on straight. Two tabs on the bottom, and the metallic rectangle securely into it's slot. Won't power on until it senses the cover back on. And of course make sure it's plugged in.
@@Bootstrappin Bingo! Removing the rim off the cover to clean proved to be a challenge earlier. After your suggestion to recheck the cover and sensor, I found a small silver rectangular piece on the floor which I discovered belongs inside the main top bracket box on the rim (nothing to keep it from falling out when the rim comes off) that communicates with the sensor on the unit. Thank you for your prompt response because it was only a matter of time before my cats would have started playing soccer with the new discovered "silver toy" and I would have had no idea what it was or where it came from!
No problem! So that would be the charcoal filter, the flexible black one. Should be between the washable prefilter and the HEPA filter, usually loosely attached to the back of the prefilter.
Heya, I accidentally did the reset thing when I was first setting up my filter and the light hasn't come on since I got it... It's supposed to automatically turn on when a replacement is in order, yeah?
if youre looking for the place to insert the loose metal magnet, i got you. on the circular snap on, there's a little slot at the top where the magnet fits perfectly. think 12 o'clock.
Well..I’ve had this for nearly 2 years, just changed out the annual hepa filter & cleaned the whole machine (I just refer to the manual) . HOWEVER man I sure wish there was a video showing this mysterious “magnet” that people are talking about LOL seriously you guys I didn’t know it existed, and I can’t find it, I’m a moron. But in my defense it’s all put together properly and it’s operating as I should. Just like out of the box.
Your video is awesome, could you please try out okaysou air purifier and review it as well? I wanna know this brand's information. I've heard that their air purifier is not bad. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. I needed the visual, especially in cleaning the sensor. What bothered me was that your hepa filter looked white after some use. For me, after only a month of use, I opened my Coway and, my Hepa was black in the front. I'm thinking it was the charcoal filter dusting back on it. I called Coway and, the guy said, it could be that but, he didn't know but that it wouldn't affect the hepa filter's operation. Have you ever encountered this?
If you burn candles or burn in a fireplace, the Coway should be shut off so you don't glom it up with smoke residue. It is doing its job. If the filter is blackening you should investigate whether your heating system or some other carbon or particulate from nearby environmental is sneaking into your home (road dirt, fire/cooking/combustion, airborne dust from manufacturing or mining, etc.).
@@cathys.5099 Thanks Cathy for your reply. Yeah, in my investigations, I read that information too. But, I live in an apartment building and, no fire place, don't burn candles, we don't smoke, nowhere near a furnace or the kitchen. It's in my bedroom. Actually, I have a honeywell hpa300 in the living room that is covering 3 rooms including the kitchen (big model) and, it's hepa is not black. Anyhow, I returned it and got the honeywell hpa 200 (smaller model for the bedroom). It's working nicely for me.
I cleaned the sensor, now it turns purple or even red much more often. Is this correct behavior? It seems strange. Before it would turn red if the air was noticeably bad (smoke from a fire, or if I was cooking steak). Now it seems to turn red for a few seconds, then go down to blue, then red again over a few minutes.
Interesting. If it seems like it's doing it for no reason, you may have left some residue/dust/hair on the lens. I would try cleaning it again -- vacuum it out, then with a q-tip with alcohol.
I have tried that before, and it winds up producing odd sulfur-like smells when you get it wet. According to a search I just made, once charcoal has absorbed something, it's not giving it up anymore - cleaning it is only good for getting rid of dust, but not for regenerating it. In short, yeah - it's a one and done deal.
I'm late to the party. Have you had problems with the HEPA filter smelling like whatever odor you try to purify? I had mine near kitchen when cooking bacon and eggs. It worked. But when I moved it to the bedroom that night, it gave off the god awful smell of that again. I smelled the HEPA filter and it's all over the filter. Basically it's like a filtered down version of bacon and eggs. This sucks. Does that smell that the filter traps go away? Or do I need a new filter. Friend had one in living room where it's a fireplace and the whole filter smells like fireplace now. Which in return blows smoke smell out the clean air side now.
Yeah you probably at a minimum need a new charcoal filter - that's the one that is trapping the most smells. Try taking it out of the filter, and see if the smell goes away.
Great video! Does anyone else vacuum the deodorization filter to extend its life beyond six months? Does doing so affect performance? Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
There are two screws and four identical tabs holding it in. Shouldn't be anything else -- I have another video like this where you might be able to see better: ruclips.net/video/pBv2aPMWdmI/видео.html
I haven't found anything particularly effective unfortunately. Most I've been able to do is use a pencil with towel wrapped to clean the grate. As for the fan... and I haven't tried this, just an idea, Maybe you can have some luck taping a small enough hose to your vacuum cleaner and getting it through. Just don't wind up burning out the motor on the vacuum if you try that, use only in short bursts or short duration.
@@ClearAutumnFestival unfortunately no, it's asking you to replace it because what this filter does is it traps odors with a chemical bond, and a vacuum will not be able to break that bond.
Thanks. You could have also followed the directions written on the side panel where it tells you to clean the inlet and outlet above and below the sensor. Also, no need to take the front ring off. A wet paper towel slides right in and wipes the dust out.
Question 1: How often do you do this (weekly, monthly?) Apologies if you said in the video. Question 2: Did you clean the charcoal piece or did you leave as is? Question 3: If you could - would you take that circular front and blast it with a garden hose to clean out that hard to reach spot? Question 4: This was an EXCELLENT video, very detailed, to the point and thorough - great job. This isn't really a question sorry about that.
1) every 6-12 months. Mostly just use the "replace filter" light as my timer 2) usually just replace since I do the cleaning when it's time to change filters 3) sure, that's probably fine. I just find that soap and scrubbing is needed especially if it's anywhere near a kitchen. Tends to accumulate oil grime. 4) thank you!
I've been using my air purifier for 3 months. My light is RED. I turned off. I unplugged. I cleaned the pre-filter with the little square panels. I sprayed the black charcoal filter with dish soap and water then rinsed it to dry. I opened the dust sensor door. My the insides didn't look quite like yours so I couldn't find the lens. I reassembled the parts correctly. Re-plugged and turned the unit back on. The light is RED. What have I not done.... or done wrong? Wait ! I just checked again and the light was pure BLUE.....two seconds later, it was blue tinged with light purple. Now, it's blue again. I have done nothing in the room. Nothing has changed since I restarted the machine. Why these wild swings ?? Any ideas?
At times I've had experience with mine appearing to be just as temperamental, only to eventually act normal again. Hard to say without using something else to test your air quality - could be real, could be a defective ppm meter. Could try vacuuming the house to see if that helps, could try placing the unit in a different room, or maybe even "borrow" an air quality meter: amzn.to/3EWYoRd
@@Bootstrappin Thanks ! I brushed my teeth and gargled. Then, I tried patting it gently and murmuring soothing words to it. It's currently holding on a steady blue.
Not much, just let it do its thing. It does help to keep the house clean/dust/fur free by vacuuming. If that doesn't really help, there may be some source that upsets it, maybe a pet that sheds a lot.
This was helpful overall but one VERY IMPORTANT piece of information was missing! When taking off the silver circular panel, you need to be careful not to misplace the metal piece that is lodged in the top part of the panel. It is part of the sensor to indicate that the panel is closed. My metal piece fell out and I had no idea. After cleaning and closing the panel, my unit was no longer working because the sensor didn’t detect that the panel was closed. I had no idea what was wrong until the next day when my toddler brought the metal piece to me that she found on the floor! It is a small piece and easy to lose. It could have easily washed down the drain as well. I’m so thankful it didn’t.
This is a ridiculous piece of over-engineering and so frustrating - thank you for addressing this, Miyako!
The magnet that fits into the silver panel is not held down by anything, and is not enclosed by anything. So the moment you take the circular panel off the front panel, the magnet will fall out! Took me an hour to find it as it fell into my tool drawer. So I taped it shut into the enclosure, and it's fine there, but save yourself the grief and be aware of this.
You're a life saver. Thanks
Aha! That’s what that little magnet is! I couldn’t figure out where it came from on the floor but stuck it on the fridge as it looked useful. (Took me a couple of days to finish cleaning the Coway...) So glad I saw this before going insane.
Addendum: where exactly does it go? I thought I put it back right but when I plugged in the unit the lights flashed on and then died. I can’t think of any other reason.
Can you please tell me how it looks? I think I have lost mine because the filter ain’t turning on .. thanks! 🙏🏼
@@flovid5656 It looks like a rectangular prism with rounded corners. I would suggest checking any metal where you were working because it's a really strong magnet. I actually use it to hold the two screws together when I'm cleaning so I don't lose them. Hope you find it!
I feel no need to watch any other video about cleaning an air filter… This is the greatest, thank you for your contribution to this earth.
That is very kind, thank you! Only the best for my fellow Earthlings.
Thank you to this video! We got two of these for our bedrooms last summer. After about 6 months of use, the odor filter lights went on, so I changed them. However a few weeks later the purifier in my kids' room, which is on the side of the room near the wall air conditioner, started being constantly red. When I moved it closer to the door of the room, it turned blue. I started freaking out that there was mold in the air conditioner, and my kids were breathing it in while they were sleeping. After watching this video, I realized I had not cleaned the air sensor on the purifier. (I didn't know it existed.) I just opened it up and it was relatively clean, but there was a tiny ball of dust in there. I wiped it off and restarted the purifier--blue! Yay! The air sensor was on the side of the purifier that faced directly toward the air conditioner. My guess is that the air stream from the air conditioner was pushing the ball of dust into the sensor and making it think the air was filthy. So glad I don't have to look into air conditioner cleaning, or buying a new one!
I don't understand how an air filter maintenance video can be so riveting. Thank you sir; that was an unexpected pleasure.
By far the best how-to video I’ve seen in a long time! Thank you for getting right to business and being thorough with your step-by-step instructions. Bravo!
Thank you!
This is so good; no music or cuteness - thank you
Thank you for this information! Spot on. @Bootstrappin a tip you may enjoy so you never have to unscrew the grill panel, nor wait for parts to dry: use a damp bounce dryer sheet to remove dust, on the front cover grill, the clear mesh frame holding the charcoal filter, and body. You won’t have to unscrew the front part anymore. You won’t have to wash that first filter screen with water and wait for it to dry. Works way better than a vacuum! Just push the dryer sheet through fins to sweep off dust particles. Dryer sheet works best when you briefly rinse it with water, then squeeze it dry before use. The bounce brand is better at trapping dust )and repelling rodents) as it has an extra chemical in it that my preferred Downey brand does not.
I had this fan for 2 years now and for some reason it just kept staying on red after I cleaned it and it turned out to be the air sensor which I didn't know till now. I just cleaned it and everything is fine again, thank!
Hey - great video. Maintenance is important to me so this helped seal the deal for this purchase. Also - here's a tip from the tech repair world - use a stiff, broad paint brush. Like the kind you'd use on a wall. The bristles really get in there to agitate and remove caked on/greasy dust bunnies on non-removable grates, tight spaces, weird corners, and fan blades on computers all the time. Have a vacuum handy to get the resulting globs of "gunga".
Brilliant, thx! Who knew there was a sensor that had to be cleaned? So thorough! And! everything else one needs to know - how to change filters and reset them. One doesn't usually see thorough these days. Impressive.
Thanks for the video! It was very helpful, straightforward, well explained and the camera angles were good!
Just here to second Miyako’s comment about the silver piece.
I thought I had broken my coway and was not happy. The metal piece has a magnetic connection to the machine so you can just drop it in place and then snap the front cover back on the unit.
Honestly I would just skip unscrewing the front cover and all of that. Mine had hardly any dust on it and the dust that was there I could have wiped off with a rag without taking it apart.
I did really appreciate this video in general though. Thank you for taking the time to walk through how you clean yours.
just had the same issue lol
Where does the magnet go?? I can’t figure out where it fell from 😢
@@Russnyc4451 Where does the magnet go?? I can’t figure out where it fell from 😢
Thank you for this! I laughed, I cried, I empathized...
Thank you Ari for making this video... super detailed and helpful in my decision making process.
Thank you, I truly appreciate your assistance with this, it was given as a present and my hubby has not cleaned it in two years, so I'm doing it myself. Now I know where to buy the replacement filter, thank you for posting the link. you are awesome, keep up the good work
Thank you, I'm happy I could be of help!
thanks for this! Seeing you scrub that pre-filter gave me the courage to do it. And boy did it need it!
I used a sheet of dry swifter sheet and it was super easy to clean the cover and the inside!
This was all the information I needed to clean my filter. Thanks.
this was the best video I could have EVER hoped to find. exactly what I was looking for and more. a NOT BORING, actually FUNNY video on how to clean the frickin' air filter. incredible! subscribed. thank you for making my day so much better! felt like one thing went right by finding this vid.
Thank you for the kind words! 1 view = 1 defeated Coway gunga. It is a good day for me too.
Loved the video, one important thing to add, as others have mentioned, is the potential for the small rectangular magnet that falls out when you take off the plastic cover. I had the hardest time figuring out how to replace it. It fits into the plastic cover perpendicularly and you have to force it in a bit. I tried to lay it flat on the machine and it wouldn’t close properly.
Thanks, this is super helpful - especially the part about how to take off the ring on the front.
Gunga GOODBYE! Thanks guy, you're the best!
You're welcome!
Thank you for the video! Can I ask another question? What about the vent on top of the machine and the vent inside of the machine (the one right next to hepa filter)?
II had a soot problem and the whole machine is covered with grease inside out, I followed your instruction and cleaned the most of the machine, but I wasn’t able to clean the internal part of the purifier.
Unfortunately I don't have a good answer for those - if there's a way to remove the top vent, I haven't really found it. A towel with degreaser wrapped around a pencil or something similar like that could reach some of those areas.
@@Bootstrappin thank you so much! I wish I could like you video 100 times!
Thank goodness for people like you who make videos for me to know how to do random-ass shit like clean my filter. 😃
Great video man and thank you. You made it fun. Keep up the good work. Cheers From Sunny Warm Puerto Rico Island
Thanks for the video. I really wish there was a way to clean the grates in the back!
@@hana992200 same! Only thing I've figured out is wrapping a wet towel around a pen/pencil and jamming it in. May work better with a bit of cleaner/degreaser on the towel.
Thank you! You just saved me $69.99 plus shipping!
QUESTION: Wondering IF anyone has located a generic HEPA & CHARCOAL filter replacement that works well with this unit. I'm on a very fixed income. Thank y'all!! Very thorough video. 👍👍👍
That was enjoyable to watch, i hope it's the same to actually do it.
Thanks.
I’m concerned there is mold in the back of my filter. My last home had a bizarre yellow mold that showed up on some things while they were in storage. I threw out things that couldn’t be cleaned off.
I am thinking of throwing this out because this was an invisible mold that didn’t have a detectable odor and I don’t want this pushing mold out into my new house.
Any alternative suggestion for cleaning it further?
I also could run it outside for a few vile but not sure that would be good enough.
@@dreacdreac I see, that's a doozy. If I suspected mold inside the filter, I would unplug it, disassemble it completely, and wipe everything down with bleach solution while wearing a mold rated respirator. If you go that route, you'll need a screwdriver and some Ziploc bags. Take ample pictures as you take it apart so you know how everything goes back together, and put screws and any small pieces in labeled bags. I will add however that spores making it past the HVAC filter doesn't really seem likely. I'd just start by replacing all of that. But I do get the concern, especially if you don't want to "infect" the new house.
Just replaced our filter. Thank you for this video!
Such a helpful and straightforward video, thank you!
Hey, thank you- this is very cool and informative. Quick question, is it absolutely imperative that I actually replace the carbon filter? Can't I just clean/dust that as well, and put it back? I guess that one can't get wet? And if I do have to replace it, where do I get it and how much am I out for? Thanks again.
Thank you! I think the carbon filter loses effectivity the longer it is used because it bonds with odors, so vacuuming will only get rid of physical dirt, but it won't reactivate it. I just found getting it wet makes it stinky, maybe it starts to "release" the odors it bonded with. The filter replacement pack comes with two carbon filters, and it is $44 for Coway branded, and about half that for an off-brand. I usually buy them all on Amazon.
Coway:
amzn.to/3TTyo0u
Off-brand:
amzn.to/4cPSEJ0
good one!……the manual says clean the sensor with a “wet swab” I wondered if alcohol might be too harsh since they didn’t specify alcohol🧐?
That's actually a good question because there may be plastics/gaskets that deteriorate in contact with alcohol. If it was a problem, perhaps they'd mention it in the manual, but I couldn't say for sure. All I can say is that I've cleaned it this way for 5-6 years (not too often) and it hasn't caused problems. Water is probably the safest bet though.
i take the pre-filter outside and brush the dust off instead. i didn't bother disassembling the front panel since there weren't any clumps of dust in it. when i cleaned the pre-filter in the tub i got the filter and brush wet first, then put the soap on the bristles of the brush. this helped me distribute the soap better. brush in small circles to help get the brown buildup off.
normally you're not supposed to do this but i used the rough side of a scotch brite to clean dust and clumps of cat hair off the black filter. since i bought it 6 months ago it's time to replace the deodorization filter anyway.
The grill on the back is the exhaust vent and should be pretty clean. Try a microfiber duster eg Swiffer
Thank you. This was helpful.
Cleaning the filter was smooth and easy. Now, finding the front cover magnet after it disappeared, that’s a whole other story 😂😂😂.
Thank you! Great video.
Do you all use coway brand replacement filters only? Or are the off brand cheaper ones ok?
I'm sure they're fine. I personally only use the Coway stuff because I'm very happy to keep giving them money because I'm just very happy that it has been a super reliable product. But the off brand does save quite a bit of money.
@@Bootstrappin I've read some pretty bad reviews on the off brand ones. Some are useless. But I'm sure there's a decent one out there. I'm hoping to find one.
@@Bootstrappin Did you notice any chemical smell other people are talking about in the reviews for the coway brand filters?
@@GiffysChannel no, I haven't
@@Bootstrappin that's ok. I just ordered one to see for myself
following your first video about this air purifier :) thank you
Thank you! Figured I'd make a shorter version that only has to do with cleaning/maintenance.
Thanks for the tips. What filter replacements did you use? Assuming the Amazon third party ones aren’t the best?
Yeah, I've always used Coway's, from what I've read the third party stuff doesn't fit snugly and thus defeats the purpose.
Great vid! AND great squat flexibility (heels on the ground)!
True Slav! No spy.
Thanx for the instructional video Bootstrapin'!👍
Sure thing!
Thorough and helpful..thank you for posting this video!
Went to clean my air filter after 6 months use. Found out all the filters were wrapped in plastic still..... yup.
Omg thank you for this comment. Saw this comment and went to check mine. Yup, still wrapped in plastic. After 1 year of use.
@@ChristyLMcCreary 😄
Same. Do you know if running it with the filter in the plastic damaged the unit at all?
Christy LM oh no!!!!!! I better check mine! 😂🤣 So not funny either cause today is another over 120 AQ day 🤪
Wow! Done! They were not still wrapped in plastic, and regardless of running it for the last 40 days(?), it wasn’t that dirty. That just proves to me what a great machine it is. Cant tell you how many times my iPhone says it’s safe and then the machine turns red. I close my window or add another purifier to the room and it’s fine.
Thank you!
I. have done all the steps in your video but my air quality light is still red. I've replaced the filters with new ones. Any clues what is going on? I have a Coway Airmega AP-1512HH. Thanks!
I don't remember if I put this instruction in the video, but have you tried opening the little door on the side and cleaning the sensor off with a cotton swab? That and vacuuming that cavity out can help if there's some dirt stuck on the sensor.
Omg I didn’t know this air purifier was so huge lol 🙈
How can you tell I did my homework before purchasing..🙄
Great video!! I can’t wait to get mine.. I’m going to watch this when It comes time to clean it!! 👏👏
Yes it's fairly big so it can purify a fairly large space! Glad you enjoyed!
Amazing! Thanks for this 🎉
Great job!
@@adrianne.mccaffrey thank you!
Very useful at a time like this
Thank you for using Radio Announcer Voice !!
Any time! I low key kinda like doing it. Huge compression ratio, crank the f**k out of low end EQ, get way too close to my condenser mic, and put on my best Don LaFontaine impression.
Thanks dude for this video and your awesome review video as well. Just got mine last week. Oh yeahhhhh! Loving it! Question about light cleaning, should you clean that dust vent what like every 2 weeks? What if you don’t have ethanol? Is water with a q tip cool?
Great video! Helped me during the first thorough cleaning today and my unit won't power back on. Pre-filter dry, replaced thin black deodorizer filter and HEPA filter. Any suggestions on what I should check? Technical support isn't answering.
Check to make sure you put the front cover on straight. Two tabs on the bottom, and the metallic rectangle securely into it's slot. Won't power on until it senses the cover back on. And of course make sure it's plugged in.
@@Bootstrappin Bingo! Removing the rim off the cover to clean proved to be a challenge earlier. After your suggestion to recheck the cover and sensor, I found a small silver rectangular piece on the floor which I discovered belongs inside the main top bracket box on the rim (nothing to keep it from falling out when the rim comes off) that communicates with the sensor on the unit. Thank you for your prompt response because it was only a matter of time before my cats would have started playing soccer with the new discovered "silver toy" and I would have had no idea what it was or where it came from!
Thank you for this!
Sure thing!
thanks for making this video! short + very useful!!
you are a KINGGGG!!!!! ILY
❤❤❤
Thank you so much! Very helpful.
Glad I could help!
Can you tell me what brand your shower head is? I need to replace mine with a lightweight shower head. Sorry for going off topic.
question do i leave the plastic that on the filter when i firs topened and brough ti?
If you're talking about the plastic wrapping the white HEPA filter -- no, remove it - otherwise air can't flow through the filter.
Great guide, thank you
I really appreciate it, thank you!
great job !
@@josephinegutierrez8857 thank you!
Thanks so much. What the heck though is the odor filter? my coway says it needs changing but I cannot locate one!
No problem! So that would be the charcoal filter, the flexible black one. Should be between the washable prefilter and the HEPA filter, usually loosely attached to the back of the prefilter.
Heya, I accidentally did the reset thing when I was first setting up my filter and the light hasn't come on since I got it... It's supposed to automatically turn on when a replacement is in order, yeah?
Yeah no worries -- the HEPA filter light will automatically turn on after 12 months, and the odor filter light will turn on after 6 months.
@@Bootstrappin oh tyvm! I never saw any specifications for filter replacement in the manual. Takes a huge load off.
if youre looking for the place to insert the loose metal magnet, i got you. on the circular snap on, there's a little slot at the top where the magnet fits perfectly. think 12 o'clock.
Well..I’ve had this for nearly 2 years, just changed out the annual hepa filter & cleaned the whole machine (I just refer to the manual) . HOWEVER man I sure wish there was a video showing this mysterious “magnet” that people are talking about LOL seriously you guys I didn’t know it existed, and I can’t find it, I’m a moron. But in my defense it’s all put together properly and it’s operating as I should. Just like out of the box.
Your video is awesome, could you please try out okaysou air purifier and review it as well? I wanna know this brand's information. I've heard that their air purifier is not bad. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. I needed the visual, especially in cleaning the sensor. What bothered me was that your hepa filter looked white after some use. For me, after only a month of use, I opened my Coway and, my Hepa was black in the front. I'm thinking it was the charcoal filter dusting back on it. I called Coway and, the guy said, it could be that but, he didn't know but that it wouldn't affect the hepa filter's operation. Have you ever encountered this?
If you burn candles or burn in a fireplace, the Coway should be shut off so you don't glom it up with smoke residue. It is doing its job. If the filter is blackening you should investigate whether your heating system or some other carbon or particulate from nearby environmental is sneaking into your home (road dirt, fire/cooking/combustion, airborne dust from manufacturing or mining, etc.).
@@cathys.5099 Thanks Cathy for your reply. Yeah, in my investigations, I read that information too. But, I live in an apartment building and, no fire place, don't burn candles, we don't smoke, nowhere near a furnace or the kitchen. It's in my bedroom. Actually, I have a honeywell hpa300 in the living room that is covering 3 rooms including the kitchen (big model) and, it's hepa is not black. Anyhow, I returned it and got the honeywell hpa 200 (smaller model for the bedroom). It's working nicely for me.
I shouldn't have laughed so much at the Harry Potter joke, but I did.
I cleaned the sensor, now it turns purple or even red much more often. Is this correct behavior? It seems strange. Before it would turn red if the air was noticeably bad (smoke from a fire, or if I was cooking steak). Now it seems to turn red for a few seconds, then go down to blue, then red again over a few minutes.
Interesting. If it seems like it's doing it for no reason, you may have left some residue/dust/hair on the lens. I would try cleaning it again -- vacuum it out, then with a q-tip with alcohol.
Question… could you not just wash the charcoal filter as well? Or is that a ‘one and done’ kinda deal?
I have tried that before, and it winds up producing odd sulfur-like smells when you get it wet. According to a search I just made, once charcoal has absorbed something, it's not giving it up anymore - cleaning it is only good for getting rid of dust, but not for regenerating it. In short, yeah - it's a one and done deal.
Pretty much. I purchased a package on Amazon that has 1 hepa filter & comes with 2 deodorizer filters. Just toss that one out when it’s time.
Can you take it apart if something gets dropped through the back vent and gets lodged in the fan? (Gotta love toddlers)
I haven't found any straight-forward way unfortunately. Any way you can turn it upside down and shake it, maybe use tweezers?
How often do you clean yours?
About once a year, give or take.
I just got one, glad I saw this. I may return it now, this is waaaaay too much work! Ugh!
2:30 - You might try a “bottle brush” for the grate. You’ll still have to go into each openings but I think it’s pretty quick.
Maybe it’s just me.
@@jimtalbott9535 that's a pretty good idea actually, maybe pair that with a vacuum so any dirt getting dislodged doesn't fall into the purifier.
I'm late to the party. Have you had problems with the HEPA filter smelling like whatever odor you try to purify? I had mine near kitchen when cooking bacon and eggs. It worked. But when I moved it to the bedroom that night, it gave off the god awful smell of that again. I smelled the HEPA filter and it's all over the filter. Basically it's like a filtered down version of bacon and eggs. This sucks. Does that smell that the filter traps go away? Or do I need a new filter. Friend had one in living room where it's a fireplace and the whole filter smells like fireplace now. Which in return blows smoke smell out the clean air side now.
Yeah you probably at a minimum need a new charcoal filter - that's the one that is trapping the most smells. Try taking it out of the filter, and see if the smell goes away.
Mine is now having the same issue. Which filter did you end up replacing / fixing?
Use swiffer for hard to reach areas
YOU SAID GUNGA!!! hahahahha I'm still laughing
Not to be confused with its unwashed cousin, gungalunga
Bootstrappin' 🤣🤣🤣 DEAD.
How often should I do this?
I do this when I change filters, and only if it looks like it needs it. So every 6 months or so.
Great video! Does anyone else vacuum the deodorization filter to extend its life beyond six months? Does doing so affect performance? Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Just tried washing mine. We will see!
Any update? Not sure if there’s any way to know
@@MsTopcat55 no wayyyyyy😊 !You can’t wash a carbon filter ……manufacturer doesn’t even want you getting those wet
Great video
does anyone know if u can buy the main (washable) filter screen? if so, where? any help is appreciated !
You probably have to contact Coway for a replacement part
Thank you! You saved me!!
Great except that one of the tabs is different and the video skips past how to deal with it (1:15). How do I get the ring off?
There are two screws and four identical tabs holding it in. Shouldn't be anything else -- I have another video like this where you might be able to see better: ruclips.net/video/pBv2aPMWdmI/видео.html
Thank you so much!!
Is there no way to clean the actual fan underneath the grate?
I haven't found anything particularly effective unfortunately. Most I've been able to do is use a pencil with towel wrapped to clean the grate. As for the fan... and I haven't tried this, just an idea, Maybe you can have some luck taping a small enough hose to your vacuum cleaner and getting it through. Just don't wind up burning out the motor on the vacuum if you try that, use only in short bursts or short duration.
@@Bootstrappinthank you, I’ll do the pencil trick when I replace the filters
how often does it need cleaning like this on average?
Really depends how dirty the environment is, if you have pets, etc. I'd do it once every six months.
My odor light is on. I can’t tell what specific filter = odor filter. Which one is it?
That'll be the charcoal filter - black flexible mesh looking thing
@@Bootstrappin Can I vacuum it for the full clean? Is that sufficient?
@@ClearAutumnFestival unfortunately no, it's asking you to replace it because what this filter does is it traps odors with a chemical bond, and a vacuum will not be able to break that bond.
Thank you
Thanks. You could have also followed the directions written on the side panel where it tells you to clean the inlet and outlet above and below the sensor. Also, no need to take the front ring off. A wet paper towel slides right in and wipes the dust out.
Does this model kills bacteria, germs, and virus?
It has an ionizer, which has an imperfect effect on sanitizing.
Which one is the odor filter tho
The black filter
Question 1: How often do you do this (weekly, monthly?) Apologies if you said in the video.
Question 2: Did you clean the charcoal piece or did you leave as is?
Question 3: If you could - would you take that circular front and blast it with a garden hose to clean out that hard to reach spot?
Question 4: This was an EXCELLENT video, very detailed, to the point and thorough - great job. This isn't really a question sorry about that.
1) every 6-12 months. Mostly just use the "replace filter" light as my timer
2) usually just replace since I do the cleaning when it's time to change filters
3) sure, that's probably fine. I just find that soap and scrubbing is needed especially if it's anywhere near a kitchen. Tends to accumulate oil grime.
4) thank you!
I've been using my air purifier for 3 months.
My light is RED.
I turned off.
I unplugged.
I cleaned the pre-filter with the little square panels.
I sprayed the black charcoal filter with dish soap and water then rinsed it to dry.
I opened the dust sensor door. My the insides didn't look quite like yours so I couldn't find the lens.
I reassembled the parts correctly.
Re-plugged and turned the unit back on.
The light is RED.
What have I not done.... or done wrong?
Wait !
I just checked again and the light was pure BLUE.....two seconds later, it was blue tinged with light purple.
Now, it's blue again.
I have done nothing in the room.
Nothing has changed since I restarted the machine.
Why these wild swings ??
Any ideas?
At times I've had experience with mine appearing to be just as temperamental, only to eventually act normal again. Hard to say without using something else to test your air quality - could be real, could be a defective ppm meter. Could try vacuuming the house to see if that helps, could try placing the unit in a different room, or maybe even "borrow" an air quality meter: amzn.to/3EWYoRd
@@Bootstrappin Thanks !
I brushed my teeth and gargled.
Then, I tried patting it gently and murmuring soothing words to it.
It's currently holding on a steady blue.
So when the air quality light turns red, how do we get it back to blue, besides saying get the air clean again, lol.
Not much, just let it do its thing. It does help to keep the house clean/dust/fur free by vacuuming. If that doesn't really help, there may be some source that upsets it, maybe a pet that sheds a lot.
Don't take the front cover apart. Just wash it in the tub same as the pre-filter.
Remember not to lose the little magnet inside the grey ring
I wish you had shown how to replace the HEPA filter. : (
Ah! Well have I got a video for you -- at around the 09:45 minute mark.
ruclips.net/video/pBv2aPMWdmI/видео.html
Thanks! Great help. Gen Z-ers aren’t all bad!
I'm flattered, but I'm in my mid 30s lol
@@Bootstrappin I’m an old boomer, what do I know! 😆
Otr just use a shower head to spray everything out in the bathtub from the front panel and let it dry. No need to take the front panel apart lol
respect for using vegan shampoo/cleaner.
Great video. Only part i didnt like was how you kept saying "gunga"