Besides dust, smoke is also one of the most common airborne particles at home. This is especially true if you use and do things that produce smoke, like cooking, using a wood-burning fireplace, and smoking. To ensure indoor air quality, you need a smoke air purifier to remove these smoke particles. But how do you choose one among the hundreds of options?
In this article, discover how to properly do that by learning what key factors you need to consider. Most importantly, get tips on pinpointing the best purifier for your needs. Find some top smoke air purifier picks to get you started in the right direction.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Smoke Air Purifier
Purifiers vary from one another. Smoke air purifiers, specifically, usually have specialized features to eliminate smoke. Choosing the right air purifier for that shouldn’t be hard, as long as you consider these factors and tips:
Size of Particles Filtered
Always check the size of the particles an air purifier can filter. This is usually measured in microns. Since you’re dealing with smoke, ensure that it can filter particles measuring up to 2.5 microns. This is the typical size of smoke from cooking fumes, candles, wildfires, and more.
Filter Type
The type of filter in an air purifier can determine its ability to capture and remove particles of various sizes. Make sure your smoke purifier has a true High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter among the many types of filters. Manufacturers may also specify the size of particulate matter an air purifier can protect against. This is occasionally denoted as a PM value.
With its high efficiency, this filter can remove 99.9% of particles 0.3 microns in size from the air. This type will be more effective in capturing smoke. Additionally, you can look for a unit with an activated carbon filter to remove other foul odors and chemicals. A HEPA filter can ensure that the smoke and the smell are removed inside your home.
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
This pertains to the air volume an air purifier can filter given the room size in which it’s installed. It’s usually measured or reported in cubic feet per minute. You can refer to this to check if the device can effectively filter the air in your preferred room.
As a rule of thumb, the CADR should be at least two-thirds of the area that the air purifier will be cleaning. For example, for a room of 300 square feet, look for a CADR of 200 or higher. However, take note that not all manufacturers list CADR in their product descriptions.
Room Coverage
Check their specified room size coverage if a unit has no listed CADR. The coverage area pertains to how much air you want to purify based on a room size. As a rule of thumb, the coverage area should be equal or greater than the area you want to purify. So, make sure to measure your room's square footage.
Remember that ensuring enough room coverage will also ensure effective operation. This will help you reduce the costs of running the purifier.
Fan Speed
A good air purifier for smoke is one with a fan. Having good filters isn’t enough to remove smoke. You need to ensure the purifier can draw in air into those filters. That’s why the fan speed settings are important. Make sure that your purifier has at least two fan speeds to be efficient in filtering out smoke.
Additional Features
Aside from the key features above, check what other features an air purifier offers. These will allow you to enjoy the unit more and get the best out of it. Here are some good extra features to look for:
- Sleep Mode
This feature ensures low energy consumption when it’s time to sleep. It keeps the air purifier quiet and turns off other display indicators to get more comfortable as you fall asleep.
- Night Light
Some purifiers can also have night light features that you can turn on during the night so you can still have a light on. It’s usually adjustable to bright, dim, or off, so you can choose whichever suits your needs best.
- Filter Change Indicator
This is a good feature that will let you know when it’s time to upgrade the filter in your smoke purifier. With this, you can ensure that the purifier can perform at its best and remove smoke efficiently.
- Smart Control
Some purifiers also have more advanced features than others. They can have smart control functions, like controlling the purifier using an app. With this, you don’t have to get up and go to the unit to change its settings. However, take note that this can affect the price of the purifier.
Recommendations: 3 Best Smoke Air Purifiers
To give you a headstart in your shopping journey, here are some top picks you can consider:
1. Allerair Airmedic Pro 5 HDS Smoke Eater Air Purifier
This is designed to remove your home's airborne smoke, odor, and chemicals. It features high-quality filters. These include an activated carbon filter, tar-trapping pre-filter, and a Super HEPA particle filter. These make it effective in removing smoke from tobacco, wood, cigars, wildfire, and other smoking products.
Specifications:
- CFM or CADR: 400 cubic ft per minute
- Noise Level: 39 to 62 decibels
2. Airpura T600 Tobacco Smoke Air Purifier
This is specially designed to capture and remove smoke particles from tobacco. It has a special TarBarrier pre-filter with a deep carbon bed that can absorb 4000 chemicals and gases from tobacco smoke. If you prefer, it’s available in three colors: black, cream, and white.
Specifications
- CFM or CADR: 560 cubic ft per minute
- Noise Level: 32.4 to 61.9 decibels
3. Sunheat Mountainaire MA4000 Air Purifier
This six-stage filtration system removes smoke particles and foul odors from the smoke and pets. It even features advanced PCO technology that can remove mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and germs. Plus, it has a stylish unit design, making it look like a regular compact speaker at home.
Specifications:
- CFM or CADR: 108 cubic feet per minute
- Noise Level: 50 decibels
Conclusion
Air purifiers for smoke have specialized features that can remove not just the particles but the smell of smoke as well. To ensure you’re getting the best unit for your home, examine the filter it has, its CADR, and room size coverage. Also, consider the fan speed settings and other additional features that benefit your needs.
Consider the top 3 recommendations above for some of your best options. But if you want to check out some more, you can visit our smoke air purifier collection.
