What is the Red Light on Levoit Air Purifiers [Reasons & Fixes]

Are you wondering what causes the red light on the Levoit Air purifier? I’m sure you are; why else would you be here? 🙂 I’ve been asked this question a few times, so I decided to write a guide on the topic.

The red light on a Levoit air purifier is a filter check indicator which is a reminder that you need to check your filter for possible replacement. The light typically comes on 6-8 months after using an air purifier.

Possible Causes for Red Light Problems on Levoit Air Purifiers

Those are possible causes. But what should you do when encountering these problems with the red light on your Levoit air purifier? Let’s briefly discuss the solutions below.

Problem 1: Red light not turning on in 8 months

The check filter light reminds you when it is due to have an air filter replacement. Depending on how often you use your air purifier, the filter can come on between 6-8 months.

 But when you don’t see your check filter light turn on after 8 months has passed, it could be that you don’t use your air purifier often.

The check filter light indicator has to turn on when a threshold number of hours of use has been reached. That is why it should take a little longer before replacing your air filter if you don’t use your air purifier much.

The fix

You do not need to take any action at this point because there is a good chance that the filter is still in good condition.

The red light turned on within 6 months

 As said earlier, the light is programmed to blink red when a specific number of hours has been reached. It doesn’t necessarily check the status of the filter.

The check filter indicator light doesn’t work like a sensor.

So, the general rule is that when you are using your purifier frequently, the red light will likely turn on sooner than the expected 6 months period.

The fix

If the red light on a Levoit air purifier turns on within 6 months, replace the air filter and reset the light.

Problem 3: Red light on Levoit air purifier not turning off after replacing the filter

After each time you replace your filter, remember to reset the red filter light indicator; otherwise, it will not turn off.

The fix

Reset the red light indicator.

Before resetting the check filter indicator, it is crucial to ensure the air purifier is turned on. There are two ways to reset your air purifier. The first one is by manual, and the second is by using the VeSync app on your smart device.

 To manually reset the check filter indicator light, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Start by replacing the air filter (you should never reset the light before replacing the filter)

Step 2. Ensure that you turn on the air purifier

Step 3. Press the sleep button for 3 seconds. When reset is successful, the red light will blink three times and turn off.

How to clean your Levoit air purifier

To maximize the life of your air purifier and air filter, you should clean your air purifier from time to time. Here is how to clean your Levoit air purifier.

• Begin with unplugging your air purifier for your safety
• Clean the outer part of your purifier with a dry soft cloth
• Now clean the inside part. To clean the interior, use a damp cloth to wipe the filter housing but ensure to let it dry completely before the subsequent use. (do not use bleach or any chemicals for cleaning, these might do more harm than good to your air purifier)

When should you replace your air filter?

Typically, your Hepa filter in your air purifier will need to be replaced in 6-8 months, but it will entirely depend on how often you use it. That said, if the air in the surrounding environment is a bit more polluted than usual, you might need to replace them more often.

Replacing your filter on time will improve your air purifier’s performance and prevent unforeseen breakdowns and prolong its life.

 Besides the check filter indicator, how else will you know that the filter is due for a change?

Below is a list of signs that might tell you that your filter is due for a change:

• Your air purifier is making more noise than usual when it is running
• There are unusual odors or smells coming from the unit (this is also common in air conditioner air filters when they become dirty)
• You notice decreased airflow from your unit
• You can also tell by looking at your filter. A dirty filter will visibly be clogged.

How to replace your filter on a Levoit air conditioner?

After you have figured out that your filter replacement is due, you should immediately change the filter. Here are a few steps to help you replace the filter correctly.

1.       Unplug the air purifier.

2.       Flip the unit and remove the filter cover

3.       Remove the old filter.

4.       Clean the filter housing. If possible, use a vacuum cleaner to clean out hair or dust residue but avoid using chemicals.

5.       Fit the new filter into the housing and put back the cover.

6.       Plug in the purifier and reset the filter to check the light.

7.   That’s it; you are now done replacing the air filter.

While it can take up to 8 months to replace the filter, the nylon pre-filter needs to be cleaned regularly, ideally every 2-4 weeks.  You can use a soft brush or a vacuum hose to clean it well.

But you should never clean the Hepa or the activated carbon filter.

If interested in the latest Levoit models, check out the ones below:

Bestseller No. 1

LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Pets Hair in Bedroom, Covers Up to 1095 Sq.Foot Powered by 45W High Torque Motor, 3-in-1 Filter, Remove Dust Smoke Pollutants Odor, Core 300, White

• A 45W long-life high-torque motor, a versatile 8.7″ x 8.7″ x 14.2″ size, a 7.48 lb weight, a 141CFM CADR and up to 1095 ft² of purification area. Every aspect of Core 300 is designated for a better purification effect.Humidity: < 85% RH. Standby Power: < 0.8W. Operating Conditions Temperature: 14°–104°F / -10°–40°C..Power Supply : AC 120V, 60Hz
• HIGH PERFORMANCE: Enjoy fresh air in 12 minutes with the Core 300 Air Purifier. Featuring VortexAir Technology, 360° air intake, and CADR of 141 CFM / 240 m³/h (Clean Air Delivery Rate), Core 300 can purify air of a 1,095 ft² space once in one hour. The higher the CADR of an air purifier, the larger its purification area

Click For Best Price

Bestseller No. 2

LEVOIT Air Purifiers for Bedroom Home, HEPA Filter Cleaner with Fragrance Sponge for Better Sleep, Filters Smoke, Allergies, Pet Dander, Odor, Dust, Office, Desktop, Portable, Core Mini, White

• REFRESH & RELAX: If you struggle with allergies, low-quality sleep, congestion, or symptoms caused by pet dander, the Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier is ready to help you create a healthy space
• MATTER OF MINUTES: Breathe freely and sleep better as the air purifier uses 360° VortexAir Technology 3.0 and 3-stage filtration to ensure top-notch air purification, Operating Conditions Temperature: 14°–104°F / -10°–40°C

Click For Best Price

Bestseller No. 3

LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Large Room, Smart WiFi Alexa Control, HEPA Filter for Allergies, Removes Pollutants, Smoke, Dust, Covers up to 915 Sq.Foot, 24dB Quiet for Bedroom, Core 200S, White

• OZONE FREE: Our most popular air purifier series is back with an all-new smart model. Levoit air purifiers avoid using UV-C light, which is especially harmful for Asthma sufferers and pets
• GENUINE REPLACEMENT FILTERS: For the best performance and longest lifespan, use genuine Levoit replacement filters. Use the in-app feature to monitor your filter life. When it’s time for a fresh filter, search “Core 200S-RF”

Click For Best Price

How does a Levoit air purifier work?

Levoit Air purifiers work by trapping contaminants from the air before releasing it into your room, which means that their filters will eventually become clogged after some time. That is why you need to replace them to ensure that your purifier continues working efficiently.

A typical Levoit smart air purifier cleans the air around your home through a 3-stage filtration process: nylon-prefilter, true Hepa filter, and activated carbon filtration. Let’s briefly look at these 3 processes.

Process 1: Nylon pre-filter

This is the first stage of the purification process. It consists of a nylon filter that electrically charges and catches larger particles by attracting them. These particles include lint, dust, fibers, pet fur, and hair.

The pre-filter ensures no larger particles than recommended reach the True Hepa filter. This stage not only protect the Hepa filter but also maximizes its life.

Process 2. True HEPA Filter

This stage is where the actual purification takes place. The Hepa filter catches about 99.97 of particles of 0.3 microns in size.  Such contaminants include smoke particles, fine dust, mold, bacteria, viruses and other allergens.

Processed 3: High-Efficiency Activated Carbon Filter

Activated carbon filtration is the final stage of the air cleaning process in a typical Levoit air purifier. At this stage, nothing not filtered out by the Nylon and Hepa filtration processes is now absorbed here. That includes odors, smoke, and fumes.

It’s at this stage that several chemicals and compounds are also filtered out from the air, including the following:

• Hydrogen sulfide
•  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• formaldehyde
• benzene
•  ammonia

Final Thought

We have seen in this guide that when you are dealing with a red light on the Levoit air purifier, this has to do with the condition of your air filter. When you see a red light blinking on your air purifier, check the status of your filter, and if it is dirty, replace it accordingly.

Thanks for reading.

Tim David

HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.