African american woman wearing yellow sweater at kitchen smelling something stinky and disgusting, intolerable smell, holding breath with fingers on nose. Bad smells concept.
When you’re shopping for an air purifier, with or without all of the relevant bells and whistles, you may be wondering: can I get rid of nasty odors with one of these appliances?
The short answer is: yes! Certain air purifiers are able to trap and reduce odors, along with other gasses that our sense of smell might not pick up on. Air purifiers with carbon do the trick by adsorption. That’s a process where molecules or ions from a gas or liquid stick onto a solid or liquid surface, forming a thin layer without getting “inside” of the target material. This may or may not be a good analogy, but think about flies sticking to a piece of flypaper. There’s a rudimentary correlation there.
As for the efficacy of air purifiers to remove smells: keep in mind that not all smells are created equal! This article will touch on the science of how air purifiers filter these strong scents from the air, and provide helpful tips for using air purifiers to filter out unwanted or harmful odors.
Activated Carbon, and Odor Control and Reduction
In the conventional air purifier unit, the key to capturing odors is the use of activated carbon, which is also known as activated charcoal. It’s an organic compound made from burnt plant matter. This includes burnt coconut shells, wood, coal, and other carbon-based compounds. The term ‘activated’ means that the charcoal has been modified to be extremely porous.
How do they make this stuff? The activation process usually includes high heat exposure and chemical washes.
The Science of Adsorption
The general idea here is that the pores of the activated carbon increase the surface area, thus improving the adsorption ability of the carbon. As mentioned, adsorption is the process of chemical molecules adhering to the surface of another substance. For example, in an air purifier, the irritating smell of a strong cleaning product will stick to the surface of the carbon as the air moves through the unit.
How much activated carbon do you need to really make a dent in odors? It turns out a little goes a long way. You don’t need an enormous amount of carbon to remove odors effectively. For example, a single pound of activated carbon can have a surface area of up to roughly 125 acres! That means a relatively small amount of carbon can successfully trap a lot of contaminants. However, the larger the carbon bed, in general, the longer the carbon will last, while, as mentioned, a deeper bed also will remove more per pass, because there is more area for the contaminant to come in contact with for one pass.
Getting Rid of Different Odors
Some odors are lighter and easier to trap. Others, like heavy cooking smells or the odors of ingrained pet dander, tend to linger a lot longer.
In dealing with the more entrenched odors, you may wish to remove a source-specific odor with the air purifier placed near the source. This way, as the gasses causing the odor are released, they can be quickly captured by the carbon in the unit, rather than getting absorbed in third party objects near it. There are exceptions to this rule, though, so consider airflow and other factors carefully.
Odors and Air Speed
Another part of controlling odors is appropriate airspeed. Running an air purifier on a slower speed will lead to a greater dwell time for the contaminants such as, but not limited to, VOCs, gases and odors. Dwell time is the amount of time that the contaminated air is inside the air purifier system. More dwell time helps the contaminants stick to the surface of the carbon.
On the other hand, it’s important to make sure that you have as much air coming in as the amount of contaminated air getting released into a room or space. So it may be helpful to change speeds over time. run on high in an open area for a few hours when you first get a unit and then turn to medium. In some cases, it works to turn the unit to low for some time. The key is to keep it running on some speed, because the purifier will constantly purify the air.
Best Air Purifiers for Odors
When it comes to getting rid of odor, some machines are better than others. Some have multiple uses, for example, dealing with volatile organic compounds and dust, and also helping with pet dander and other items that cause bad smells.
If the focus is primarily VOCs, odors, and gases then the Airpura C600DLX is one excellent choice for odor removal. It has activated carbon, quiet operation, and is rated for 2000 square feet. However, if you are looking to filter ultra-fines (particulate matter like dust and dander), then the V700 is a better choice since it has a medical grade HEPA. Airpura comes in 3 motor sizes too 4-series, 6-series, and the 7-series.
There’s also the Allerair AirMedic Pro 5 Vacarb and others in its series: the AirMedic series by Allerair is a line of air purifiers that deliver a variety of carbon weights and thicknesses, along with changeable air speeds. This allows the customer to get the unit that works “just right” for their space. Each of the air purifiers in the series is designed to purify the air of VOCs, airborne chemicals and odors, along with other gasses. In addition, they have a UV light, which provides extra protection against mold and germs. Other features of this series include:
- Variable speed dial
- Range of 18-28 pounds of carbon
- Covers 1500 square feet or less and is portable
- Four-stage powerful filtration system
- Cylindrical shape maximizes air-flow with a compact design
More for Odors
You may also consider the Austin Air Healthmate Plus – this easy-to-use and economical air purifier is a great residential or office unit. It has a superior gas filtration system that removes a wide range of chemical vapors, to protect those sensitive to household cleaners. Just a few of its many features include:
- Consistently receives top ratings for air cleaning from independent testing
- Cleans up to 1500 square feet
- Filter technology traps a wide range of chemicals, gasses (including VOCs) and odors
- Extremely user-friendly for filter maintenance
- Comes with a 5-year warranty on unit and filter
- 4-stage air filtering system with 360° air intake and 3 fan speeds
- Made in the USA
Amaircare Products
And then there’s the Amaircare 3000 VOC: they pack this heavy-duty air purifier with 30 pounds of carbon. It is a quality unit that can tackle the toughest VOCs, odors and gases. Take a look at some of its other features, including:
- Covers 1800 sq ft
- Made with metal, avoiding toxins from plastic models
- Electronic Display for Low-Medium-High settings
- 360 degree air intake
- Made in Canada
The bottom line is that there are ample options for air purification units when you want to do away with unpleasant smells! Units with activated carbon filters and different fan speeds will help you get rid of pesky odors, along with the added benefit of detoxifying the air, and producing odor-free, clean air that is healthy and easy to breathe.
If these air purifiers aren’t quite what you are looking for, US Air Purifiers is happy to help you find a great match that will work for any space and severity of stench. The Lulay Team at USAirPurifiers is a family and veteran owned U.S. business, and we are truly here to help with your best interest in mind. Our team will help you to purify your indoor air, and get a better result with innovative technology that fights air pollution where it lives – and where you live, too! Make an investment in your health and the health of your family, to breathe easier all day and all night.