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Do Air Purifiers Eliminate Odors?
 Do smoky cigars, lingering pet odors, or strong fumes pollute the air in your home? Although odors and foul smells are a part of life, they don’t need to be a
part of your indoor air.
An air purifier can improve your indoor air quality dramatically.
Anyone with small children, pets, or a smoker in the house knows all too well that room deodorizers and air fresheners only mask the smell temporarily
and don’t solve your real air cleaning needs. To gain fresh, clean air, the odors in your home must be neutralized and cleaned completely. Odors like strong
cooking smells, chemical fumes, and tobacco smoke are particularly dangerous for people suffering
from asthma and allergies. As the air
reaches the lungs, these bothersome odors and fumes trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions.
We represent the top brand air purifier and air cleaner manufacturers including
Austin Air,
Blueair,
IQAir, and
Allerair.
When deciding which
air purifier will be most effective against household gases, odors and fumes, first consider the amount of air each air purifier can
effectively process. The CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate, is used to measure the overall
effectiveness of an air purifier and is tested and certified by the Association of Home Appliance
Manufacturers (AHAM).
As air cycles through the air cleaner, the CADR measures the volume of air actually moving through the system, and the percentage and size of the particles
being removed. CADR tests for pollutants like tobacco smoke, dust and
pollen. These tests determine, in cubic feet per minute (CFM), how effective the air cleaner is
at removing specific pollutants.
CADR results are recognized as accurate and impartial measurements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association. Although
some manufacturers use the air exchange rate to qualify their air cleaners, it is not comparable to the CADR tests. Air exchange rates only indicate the total
volume of air that is processed by the air purifier in a given time and does not account for the particles being filtered or the overall effectiveness of the
air purifier. Keep in mind that CADR is only one item to consider. Many manufacturers are not a part of the AHAM trade association nor do
they submit their products for testing. CADR results have often skewed in favor of ozone generators and ionizers and thus should be taken for
what they are - one of few impartial measurements of air purifier effectiveness.
Air cleaners utilize various methods of filtration for neutralizing and cleaning the awful odors in indoor
air. Activated Carbon Filters are the most widely used type of filter to remove gases,
odors, and chemical toxins. The carbon that is contained in activated carbon filters is basically charcoal. When charcoal is treated with oxygen, millions of
tiny pores between the carbon atoms are created, enabling the activated carbon to adsorb odorous substances from gases or liquids.
The term "adsorb" refers to the process by which the material attaches itself to the charcoals by way of chemical attraction. Large surface areas with tiny pores
of activated charcoal attract odors, gases, and chemical toxins, and the pores trap these impurities. As the carbon filter becomes full with airborne
contaminants, the charcoal becomes less effective, requiring replacement. Impregnated carbon filters contain an additional chemical (a chemisorbent), allowing
them to eliminate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as well as odors and fumes.
AllerAir Air Purifiers offer a variety of air cleaners especially equipped to remove VOCs, offensive
odors, smoke, and smog. With an optional UV light to kill bacteria and sterilize the air, the Allerair air purifiers are comprised of an all-metal housing that
does not produce off-gassing or ozone. Allerair air purifiers offer heavy-duty air cleaning for industrial or residential settings.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, by definition, are required to filter at
least 99.97% of all airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, and pet dander. However, the size, material, and construction of the
HEPA filter media will determine the amount of particulates that will be filtered. If the filtration media is too small, some ultra-fine particles like foul
odors and chemical fumes can be missed.
To tackle odor control, HEPA air purifiers usually combine the HEPA filter with additional
filtration systems. Manufacturers like
Austin Air combine the HEPA filtration technology with their own carbon/zeolite filter to effectively remove airborne
pollutants and lingering odors and smells. The carbon/zeolite filter is impregnated with potassium iodide for enhanced removal of chemically reactive gases,
providing your home with air that’s free of allergens, toxins, and odors.
Charged Media filters are also effective against nasty odors. Through the use of electrostatic energy and synthetic fiber filters, many charged media filters
can collect particles as small as 0.1 microns. The media filter, made from synthetic fibers, is charged through the manufacturing process and attracts airborne
contaminants electrostatically before trapping them inside the fibers of the filter.
However, charged media filters lose their charge frequently and become less effective after every use, requiring a filter replacement to regain
efficiency. In fact, some charged media filters emit ozone, a dangerous lung
irritant that pollutes your air and should be avoided by allergy and asthma sufferers.
Some air purifiers like the Blueair air purifiers, offer optional smoke, odor, and gas removal
filters. Known for their stylish and sleek design, Blueair air purifiers offer low energy consumption and easy-to-replace filters. With either a
Smokestop filter or a particle and gas filter, Blueair air purifiers remove 99.97% of particles at 0.1 micron, and they don’t emit ozone.
Like charged media filters, Electrostatic Precipitators use electrostatic charges to safely clean air and neutralize odors. As air is pushed through many
static prone fibers, electronic cells charge airborne particles and capture them inside of collector plates. As electrostatic precipitators don’t require filters, you don’t
have to worry about replacing the filters. Simply wash the collector plates and insert back into the air purifier to receive fresh, clean air.
So if you’re trying to rid your home of disgusting odors, noxious gases, or foul fumes, don’t spray air fresheners that will only contribute to your indoor air
pollution. Instead, freshen your air with a quality air purifier. Your nose will appreciate it!
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9/25/09 This Summer I experienced zero allergies by wearing the mask I bought while cutting my lawn..Relief! More Testimonials
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