Have you bought a new air purifier only to find out it doesn’t work?
Sadly, that does happen now and then.

When my Levoit air purifier stopped working one day, I was pretty disappointed.
However, I quickly learned that one problem doesn’t mean I have to replace my air purifier.
So you don’t have to jump on different forums and message boards to find answers, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide.
In this article, I’ve listed some of the most common problems you might encounter with Levoit air purifiers with troubleshooting tips.
Let’s dive into it.
Levoit Air Purifier Not Turning On
Sometimes, it’s the simplest of things.
Make sure your air purifier is plugged in. Next, make sure your outlet is getting power. Has a fuse blown or the breaker tripped? If so, address that problem.
Examine the cord itself. Is it chewed, frayed, or burned? If the cord is damaged, stop using your purifier. If it’s been chewed, blame your pet—or find that mouse! If it’s burned, this could indicate a serious electrical problem with the unit, so check your warranty and call Levoit’s customer service.
Insufficient power. If you live in the US or Canada and your home is less than about 70 years old, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Check the voltage requirements of your specific purifier model and make sure it isn’t higher than what your home supplies. For example, your Levoit air purifier has a rating of 120V, but your home’s electricity has a lower voltage rating.
Reattach the back cover. If you haven’t properly placed the back cover of your unit, it may cause power issues. Take it off and reattach it.
Your purifier has reached the end of its life. Every appliance has a life cycle. And if your purifier gets a regular, intense workout keeping the air in your home clean, there is a chance that the motor has died.
Levoit Air Purifier Not Blowing Enough Air
This is a common problem with any HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) appliance.
Check your filter. A dirty filter is the culprit 9 times out of 10 when HVAC equipment isn’t getting enough airflow.
Does your unit require you to change or clean your filter? Check your manual and follow the recommendation—and then make sure to follow their clean/replace schedule.
Remove filter packaging. This may fall into the “well, duh” category, but these things happen. Make sure your filter packaging has been removed as the packaging will lead to no airflow at all.
Adjust fan speed. Does your model have fan speed settings? If so, ensure that it’s not set to low speed.
Insufficient clearance. Most HVAC appliances require significant clearance to allow for adequate airflow. If you have your purifier too close to a wall or anything else that could reduce surrounding airflow, check your manual for recommended clearance allowances and move your purifier accordingly.
Red Light Won’t Turn Off on Levoit Air Purifier
This isn’t a problem; this is a feature.
The red light button. The red-light indicator on your air purifier is to let you know it’s time to change your filter. If you follow the filter recommendation above in #2, which is to change your filter on schedule, you’ll never see the red light at all.
Once you’ve changed your filter, simply reset the light. If the light hasn’t turned off automatically after changing the filter, press the reset button for three seconds and it should turn off.
The light ring. Your Levoit air purifier also has a light ring. If the ring is red, this indicates that your purifier is sensing bad air quality. If you have your unit set to auto, it should switch the fan to a higher setting to help clean the air. When done, it will scale back to a lower setting.
If you don’t have your unit set to auto and you see the red ring, adjust your fan manually.
The Entire Display Won’t Turn On or Off
In the event that the display itself—not just a single light—won’t turn on or off, try the following.
Check the Display Lock. Holding the Display Lock Indicator button, which is located in the bottom right quadrant of the display—look for a light with a slash through it—for 3 seconds will turn your display on/off.
Do a full reset. If the above doesn’t work, press and hold the Filter Reset button for 3 to 5 seconds.
Your Levoit Air Purifier is Making Noise
Don’t worry, this is typically an easy fix!
First up, we’re not talking about the decibel rating of your air purifier. Most purifiers are rated at below 60 decibels and while that’s noise, it’s still considered background noise. Levoit models have decibel ratings from 23 to 50 dB, so they’re already some of the quietest on the market.
However, here’s what to do if your purifier starts making unusual noises.
Chirping. The cause of this could be the bearings in the blower fan or motor, especially if the sound is cyclic. If you’re handy, you can take the fan apart and lubricate the bearings with a clean cloth and any brand of 3-in-1 machine oil.
Whistling. This usually means your air filter is damaged, defective, or simply dirty. Try changing it to see if the noise disappears.
Mild banging or rattling. Check to see if the back cover is on correctly. If not, it might be vibrating and causing noise.
Clattering. Something may have made its way into your purifier—or something inside has broken—and now it’s clattering around inside. Unplug and turn off your unit, then open it up and check for debris of any kind. Remove if necessary.
Levoit Air Purifier is Beeping
A constant beeping could indicate a problem with the control panel—but don’t worry, a simple reset should clear things up.
The problem could be due to a power interruption or short circuit that has temporarily messed up your unit’s programming. Once you’ve recalibrated it, the beeping should stop.
To reset your unit, make sure it’s plugged in but turned off. Then press and hold the reset button for 3 to 5 seconds. Another alternative is to simply unplug your purifier for a minute or so, then plug it back in.
If the beeping continues after trying either of those options, you should contact customer service or call an appliance repair technician.
Levoit Air Purifier Smells Bad
First up, if it’s a burning smell, this is not normal. It usually indicates an electrical fault. If your unit is still under warranty, see if you can get it replaced.
Smells like a wet dog. This could be due to microorganisms—similar to what dogs have on their bodies—that are trapped in your purifier. As water condenses and moves across your filter, it releases an odor.
If your model has a washable filter, try cleaning it using solvents such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2) or Sodium chlorite (NaClO2). Either will kill off the microorganisms.
Sour smelling. If your filter is a combination of HEPA and activated carbon, the sour odor is an indication that you should change your filter.
Dusty smelling. This is environmental. If you have your purifier in a very dusty space—and it’s also poorly ventilated—it will absorb the dust in the air. Every time you turn your purifier on, it will spew a dusty odor back out at you.

Levoit Air Purifier Not Connecting to Wi-Fi or App
This boils down to an incompatibility between your network and your air purifier.
There are a few things you can check.
2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Make sure you have a stable 2.4GHz wi-fi network. In most cases, Levoit doesn’t support 5GHz. Your phone will also need to be connected to 2.4GHz during the setup process.
Password issues. Make sure you’re using the correct Wi-fi password.
Router distance. Make sure your router can see your purifier. Depending on your router and its admin, you should be able to see all connected devices. If you can’t see it in your router’s admin panel, try moving it closer to your router.
Levoit Air Purifier Not Purifying
If it seems your purifier just isn’t doing its job, there are a few things you can check.
Change or clean your filters. As already mentioned, dirty filters are the number one cause of all sorts of HVAC problems. If your filters are clogged, your purifier cannot do its job.
Coverage issues. Any portable—or central—HVAC equipment has limitations in terms of the area in which it can effectively work.
If you’re trying to purify a room or area larger than about 300 square feet, it’s unlikely your air purifier is up to the task.
Allow for airflow. If you have your purifier sitting somewhere too close to a wall or solid furniture, you need to move it.
Check your manual for specifics, since not all units have the same inlet. A safe bet is to ensure your air inlet is at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the wall.
Air Purifier Best Practices
To ensure you get the best out of your air purifier, whether it’s a Levoit or something else, here are some best practices.
Choose the Right Model
Levoit offers a range of purifiers to suit different needs. You can find models for small rooms or larger areas, for people who have pets, and some that provide aromatherapy.
Don’t buy a model made to work in a less than 200 sq ft area when you need something much larger. It won’t work.
Initial Setup
The best way to ensure your air purifier remains operational is to follow the setup procedure in your manual. Failure to do so could cause unexpected problems.
Change Your Filters
Regular maintenance is key. Make sure you follow a schedule for changing your filter.
Leave it Running
Set it and forget it—at least until you need to change a filter.
Running a purifier for just a few hours a day won’t improve the air quality in your home. It’s a continuous process.
Pick the Best Spot
You should leave your purifier in the same spot instead of moving it from room to room. And the best spot is usually the bedroom since this is where most people spend a third of their lives.
Close the Windows and Doors
Open windows and doors will make your purifier work harder while doing less good. You’re letting your clean air out and bad air in. Having said that, it is a good idea to air out your home periodically.
Position the Airflow
Depending on where you keep your purifier, you want to ensure you have the clear air flow pointed toward you.
FAQs on Levoit Trouble Shooting Guide
Can You Leave a Levoit Air Purifier On 24/7?
If you want to get the most out of your air purifier, I highly recommend leaving it on 24/7.
Levoit’s air purifiers are modern and low-consumption.
You won’t have to worry about your electric bill skyrocketing just because you kept the air purifier on all day.
Keeping the air purifier on 24/7 is how you can ensure that you don’t deal with any pollutants and particles in the air.
Granted, leaving the air purifier on all the time means you will have to replace the filters more often.
However, this is a small sacrifice if you want to breathe in the cleanest air possible all the time.
When Is It Time to Change the Filter on a Levoit Air Purifier?

Air purifier maintenance is crucial if you want your appliance to last a long time.
And one of the integral parts of air purifier maintenance is changing the filter.
With Levoit air purifiers, you must change the filters every 6 months.
Air purifier filters last longer in less-polluted environments.
So, if you live in a heavily polluted area, you might have to change your filters more often than usual.
That said, the best way to check if your air purifier filter needs replacement is to check the red light on the air purifier.
The red light on a Levoit air purifier usually turns on when it’s time to change the filter.
However, this isn’t always accurate.
So, before changing the filter, try resetting the air purifier first and see if that works.
If not, it’s time to replace the filter on your air purifier.
Levoit Air Purifier Troubleshooting: Final Thoughts
Even though Levoit air purifiers consistently land on the best seller lists, as we’ve established, there may be some problems that require troubleshooting.
However, don’t let it put you off from choosing this brand. Every air purifier, not to mention every modern appliance, often requires some attention and minor fixes.
Regular maintenance, including filter changes, will add to its life. And depending on how many hours a day you run it, filters can last up to eight months.
If the problems persist without apparent reasons, then it might be time to use that warranty and contact a technician through Levoit’s website.
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