Does someone smoke at home? If yes, then consider getting air purifiers for smoke. These nifty devices should take care of the odour and harmful particles that come from every puff.
But keep in mind that air purifiers for smoke removal have distinct features. With plenty of air purifying devices in the market, learning their specs can help you make the right purchasing decision.
Read on this guide to know more.
Harmful Effects of Tobacco Smoke
We know that tobacco smoking causes various health effects on the smoker. But people exposed to second-hand smoke are at risk, too.
Infants and children, in particular, are more likely to develop health ailments due to passive smoking. Breathing in tobacco smoke by pregnant mums can also bring all sorts of complications to their unborn babies.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates also affect indoor air quality. And unfortunately, these will stay airborne for hours. Worse, they can trigger asthma symptoms and allergies.
It is then essential to apply effective measures to keep tobacco smoke out of the house. Make sure people smoke outside and away from kids.
Teach your children to stay away from second-hand smoke as well.
Best Air Purifiers for Smoke Removal
The best remedy, of course, is to quit smoking altogether. Opening your windows can also help get rid of the source.
But this may not work during the rainy or winter season. In that case, air purifiers for smoke can come in handy.
Like air purifiers for dust particles, some purifying units can also draw in smoke, filter it, then release clean air back into the room. By choosing the right appliance, your air purifier model can remove both particulate matter and odour in one go.
Here are some points you need to know.
Choose the right air filter
The most effective air purifiers for smoke have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. These can typically trap airborne particles as tiny as 0.3 microns.
However, keep in mind that tobacco smoke particulate ranges from 4 to 0.01 microns in size. After burning or exhaling, smoke particles become thinner and smaller, making them harder to catch.
So, make sure you’re getting the device with the proper type of filter and filtration capacity. Avoid those with HEPA-like or HEPA-type product descriptions as well.
These may not meet standards and work the same way as units with authentic HEPA filters. If you can find an air purifier with a pre-filter for larger particles, that will be excellent, too.
Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and replacement filter needs to ensure good performance.
Use activated carbon filters
HEPA filters cannot catch smoke odours, gases and VOCs, though. That’s why you need a device with a carbon filter as well.
This one can chemically attract unwanted smells and trap them in its pores. Devices with carbon filters can handle pet and cooking odour, too.
But remember, you will have to replace these after some time, depending on manufacturer recommendations.
Determine your room size
Air purifiers have limited capacities. Larger spaces, for example, will require a device with a compatible coverage area.
And so, before purchasing your air purifiers for smoke removal, make sure to know your floor size first. Most units will have this specification in square metres. You can compute this by multiplying the room length by its width.
Now, if you plan to use one air purifier to handle multiple or adjoining rooms, use their combined measurements as a basis. The ideal air purifier should cover at least one third more of your actual room size.
Check other relevant metrics
There are other features to consider when buying air purifiers for smoke. One is the air changes per hour (ACH).
This one measures the number of times the device can circulate and clean the room’s total air volume within 60 minutes. An air purifier with 4 to 5 ACH is a good starter. A unit with a higher ACH is even better.
Another metric to look for is the clean air delivery rate (CADR). This one is a verification test that identifies an air purifier’s ability to handle three pollutants: tobacco smoke, dust and pollen.
A higher rating means the device can quickly filter out a specific pollutant than a similar unit with a lower rating. However, not all manufacturers subject their products to the CADR test.
Also, evaluators conduct this test under controlled environments. This condition can affect result reliability under actual indoor conditions.
So, I suggest consulting the air purifier brand or manufacturer to confirm. Also, make sure not to rely on these metrics alone when buying.
Key Takeaway
Air purifiers may all look the same. But they have individual features that work on specific indoor pollutants.
So, if you need air purifiers for smoke, look for a unit with HEPA and carbon filters. Check its room coverage as well as its ACH and CADR rating.
Doing your research will ensure that you’re making the right choice and getting the best results. Check out my air purifier reviews and buying guide if you need to know more.
