why does my air purifier smell like plastic

Whether you have an AC or Fan-forced ventilation system, your house will still have a lot of hot air inside that can cause the smell of stale air. When hot air is trapped inside, it will start to smell.

Many homeowners know this and buy different air fresheners and sprays in order to get rid of the smell. However, there are also other types of smells coming from the fan or AC unit.

Why does my air purifier smell like plastic exactly? If you’re wondering why your air purifier smell like plastic then don’t worry; it’s not something that can damage your device.

The scent is harmless and is released when moisture comes into contact with the plastic interior parts of the device. This can be caused by anything from rainwater seeping into the machine, to humidifiers being used in moist areas around your home.

Luckily, this doesn’t mean your device is malfunctioning or anything like that. Let’s take a look at what causes this smell and how you can get rid of it so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.

What causes the smell of plastic in an air purifier?

The smell of plastic in an air purifier is caused by moisture coming into contact with the device’s plastic parts. This can happen during rain, if you are using a humidifier indoors or if your home is humid.

In order to fix this issue, you will want to make sure your machine is completely dry.

Can you get rid of the smell of plastic from an air purifier?

Luckily, this doesn’t mean your device is malfunctioning or anything like that. Here are some steps you can take to get rid of the smell of plastic from your air purifier:

-Change out any damp filters

-Avoid using humidifiers in moist areas

-Clean the interior fan housing

-Replace old filter cartridges with new ones

-Keep air intake openings closed when not in use

How to fix a humidifier that smells like plastic

If you’re not sure how to fix a humidifier that smells like plastic, then don’t worry; it’s not something you have to do by yourself.

There are 3 main things that cause a humidifier to smell like plastic. These are condensation, moisture inside the machine, and moisture outside of the machine.

After taking a look at these causes, take some time to clean out your machine on occasion so it doesn’t end up smelling again.

You can also simply remove the humidifier from the area where it’s causing a smell and put it somewhere else in your home or office while you wait for it to dry out completely.

This will give your humidifier plenty of time to dry out all of the moisture that’s been seeping into it over time and make your device mostly odor-free again!

When using your humidification for long periods at a time, make sure you change the water often so you minimize mold growth in the unit.

How to fix an air conditioner that smells like plastic

If your air conditioner is smelling like plastic, it’s not actually a bad thing. It just means that the AC unit is producing moisture and releasing a scent that smells like plastic.

The first step to take if you want to get rid of the smell is to clean out any dirt or debris from around the machine.

If you have an AC filter, then inspect it for any signs of mold or mildew. If there are any problems with your filter, replace it immediately.

As for the rest of the machine, try cleaning out any excess dust in the unit with a dry cloth and make sure nothing is blocking airflow.

If left unchecked, this moisture can cause rusting on some parts which can lead to more serious problems down the line.

Final Words: Should You Be Worried About Smell in Your Air Purifier?

If you have a humidifier in the room where you use your AC or fan-forced ventilation system, it’s possible that the smell comes from moisture seeping into the machine.

It should be noted that this is only a temporary smell or minor problem can be fixed by yourself mostly, so there’s no need to worry about it. 

FAQs

What causes the smell of stale air?

There are a few reasons why your air purifier may smell like plastic. Firstly, this might be because the filters inside your purifier are plastic. Plastic can absorb odors, which may be causing your air purifier to smell plastic-y.

If you’re worried about this, we recommend changing the filter more frequently. The second reason is that plastic can absorb smells as well as odors.

This means that when you have a smelly room or area in your home, it may be creating an odor around your purifier. We recommend turning the purifier off and leaving it in an area where the smell isn’t so bad in case it is becoming too much for it to handle.

Finally, plastic can change its scent of smells itself to create a plastic-y scent over time. This happens because of reactions between the plastic and fragrances within air fresheners or scented sprays that you have already bought.

Whilst this might not be something that you notice unless you keep revisiting your room with multiple scents in, it does mean that you don’t need to start buying more scents just yet.

How can you get rid of the smell of stale air?

This is usually caused by cedar, pine, or other types of sawdust or debris that have been absorbed into the filter.

To eliminate this aroma, simply clean your filter in the device by vacuuming or wetting and vacuuming it with a cleaning solution.

Air purifier smell and infections the air purifier smell may vary depending on what type of air purifier you have. For example, if you have a tower air purifier, chances are it will have a woody scent to it while electronic HEPA air purifiers will have a plastic scent to them.

If your purifier has that plastic odor then you will probably be fine as long as the device is functioning properly.

However, if the smell is overpowering then you should look into replacing it.

This may be due to some type of bacterial or fungal infection in the unit, so be sure and have it checked out by a professional before continuing to use it.

What are some other smells that can come from an air purifier? 

There are a couple of possible causes for your air purifier to smell like plastic.

First, some of the same plastic materials that are used to make air filters may leach chemicals into the air.

This is harmless, but not everyone likes the scent.

Second, if your air purifier is located next to plastic items such as bins or furniture, these may be releasing chemicals into the air.

Finally, there may be some plastic components in the filter itself that are emitting odors – these are relatively rare but can happen.