You want to use your Shark air purifier, but it has been stuck on 0 for some time. If you want to know why this happened and what you can do about it, this article can help you out. We have researched what causes your Shark air purifier to be stuck this way and what you should do next.
There are two possible reasons why your Shark air purifier is stuck on 0: 1. The air quality monitor is defective. Reset your unit or call Shark customer support if the issue persists. 2. There are zero hours left in your air filter. Have it replaced so your unit can function effectively and efficiently.
Keep on reading to learn more about why your Shark air purifier is stuck on this figure. We'll also teach you how to reset your device and change its air filter. Lastly, we'll answer why your Shark air purifier always says 100%. Let's get this started!
Why Does My Shark Air Purifier Always Say 0?
Nobody wants to breathe in polluted air, right? Unfortunately, pollution happens inside our homes. There are dirt, dust, pollen, bacteria, mold, and other allergens floating around in the air affecting the very air we breathe. That's why many homes are now using air purifiers to improve the quality of their indoor air and make it healthier.
This is especially beneficial for those with allergies and respiratory issues. Having the air purified of these pollutants makes it easier for them to breathe and relieves irritations and other symptoms of their health condition.
Shark air purifiers promise to remove 99.98% of contaminants in the air. These micro, small, and large particles get trapped in their Nanoseal HEPA filter so that they won't float in the air anymore.
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You will know the improvement of your indoor air quality by looking at the control panel on the front and top portion of your Shark air purifier. This is where you and the air purifier communicate with each other. You'll see the power button, Air Info, filter life, auto mode, and control buttons on brightness, fan speed, and shut-off timer.
As a user, you have to know what each of these buttons does and what the lights and numbers mean so that you can understand what the device is telling you.
Let's talk about the Air Info and Filter Life in particular as these are where you'll possibly see the number 0 on the LCD screen.
Air Info at 0
The percentage shown on the Air Info is a report about the status of clean air in the room. It ranges from 0 to 100% depending on how polluted or clean the air is. If it reads 0, it means the air quality is very poor but this number should fluctuate as soon as the air purifier starts doing its job.
If it is stuck at 0 for a long time, it could mean that there's a problem with the air quality monitor. This is a built-in system in your air purifier composed of gas and particulate matter sensors. It detects the presence of pollutants in the air and constantly sends a report to let you know about the progress of cleaning your indoor air.
Try to reset your device in the meantime and if it doesn't fix the issue, call Shark's customer support for assistance.
Filter Life at 0
The Filter Life screen can display 0 referring to zero hours remaining on the filter life. Shark air purifier filters have a limited lifespan. Considering the work that they have to do, users are advised to change the filter regularly. You will know how much life it has left based on the number of hours it displays on the screen. If it displays 0, it is time to have your filter replaced because it has reached its maximum capacity for containing the contaminants in the air. It won't stop showing 0 on the screen until you have your filter replaced.
Check which of these two scenarios is appropriate in your situation and do the recommended action so you can use your Shark air purifier again.
How to Reset the Shark Air Purifier
Your Shark air purifier could be stuck on zero due to a system glitch. You can perform a reset to see if this will resolve the issue.
But since this device doesn't have a reset button, you can just do a hard reset so that it'll reboot its system. Here's how to do it.
- Turn off your Shark air purifier and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Wait for a minute before you plug it back in.
- Turn on the air purifier and give it time to recalibrate. See if it isn't stuck on zero anymore.
If it is still stuck there and you know your filter is still in good condition, call Shark customer support for help. A problem with the air quality monitoring is something that's best left to the pros so you can get your air purifier to proper working condition.
How to Change the Air Filter
As mentioned earlier, Shark air purifier filters have a limited lifespan. Users are advised to change their filters every six months. But this would depend on your situation. If you live in a house with pets or along a busy street with cars always passing by, you should have your filter changed earlier.
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The simple reason is that your air purifier is only as good as your air filter. It is the one that traps the contaminants in its fiber mesh. If it's too full and dirty already, it won't be able to contain the dirt any longer and you'll end up with poor-quality indoor air and suffer its consequences.
So, without much further ado, here's how to change the air filter on your Shark air purifier.
- Buy a new air filter that's compatible with your air purifier's model.
- Remove all packaging.
- Turn off your unit and unplug from the power source.
- Press the tabs at the back of your unit to remove the cover and access the filter's location.
- Remove the old filter and put it inside a zippered plastic bag immediately so as not to spread any dirt around. This is not reusable and should be disposed of properly.
- Install the new filter. Take note of the proper orientation as indicated by the arrow on the filter screen.
- Put the cover back and make sure it is secured in its place.
- Plug the air purifier into the power outlet and turn the unit on.
- Reset the timer by doing a long press on the Filter Life button found at the top control panel. Stop when you hear a beep.
That's how you replace your filter. Do this regularly as part of your air purifier's maintenance.
Why does my air purifier always say 100%?
Now, let's go over to the other end of the spectrum where you see 100% on your LCD display screen all the time.
Shark air purifiers inform you regarding the quality of your indoor air in two ways: the color of the LED ring lights and the actual percentage of clean air.
A red ring indicates poor air quality or 0 to 69% clean air. Your air purifier detects between 80 to 430 air contaminants in the room. If this improves to 70 to 84%, the ring light turns amber. At this time, there are around 26 to 80 pollutant particles in the air. But once it turns blue, your indoor air quality is good, or around 85 to 100% clean with less than 25 particles in the air.
The actual percentage on the screen takes the guesswork out of it. You know the exact rating of your indoor air quality. If it says 100%, it means the air has been rid of all the possible contaminants and the air purifier has successfully done its job.
But if it always says 100%, then you have to be wary. This number is supposed to fluctuate during the day as contaminants are constantly introduced into the air. Ordinary activities such as cooking, opening the door and window, and playing with our pets can affect the air quality.
Similar to our situation above, your air quality monitor could be defective. To confirm this, try putting your air purifier in the kitchen when you're cooking, spray perfume within its vicinity, or just move its position to another part of the room. The rating should fluctuate since it hasn't cleaned the new air pollutants just yet. If it still stays at 100%, better call Shark customer support for assistance.
Final Thoughts
Check first if a simple reset or changing the filter will solve the issue. If it doesn't, call Shark for assistance. They'll send specialists who can take a look at the air quality monitor so that you can have your air purifier back in good running condition and enjoy fresher and healthier air in your home.
Feel free to click the following links for some related reading:
My Shark Air Purifier Always Reads 100 Percent – Why? What To Do?
How To Reset Filter Life On Shark Air Purifier [Quickly And Easily]