Best Air Purifier for Smoke And Odor Removal in 2023

What Is Activated Carbon Filter?

Activated Carbon Filter is a type of deodorization filter used to remove smoke and odor particles. Through a process called adsorption, where a porous adsorbent material would hold on to gas or liquid molecules from a substance. Not to be confused with Absorption that refers to liquid dissolvement.

Most activated carbon filter is made of charcoal, wood and coconut shell crushed into granules. Premium filter media include impregnated nutshells, lignite, potassium iodide or zeolite. Typical carbon filter can remove smoke particle sizes ranging from 0.5 to 50 microns.

Activated carbon filter is commonly found on an air purifier to capture smoke and odor. This includes chemicals from household objects e.g. VOCs, Benzene, Ammonia, Radon. Tobacco smoke chemicals like Carbon monoxide, Formaldehyde is also on the inclusion list.

Which Is The Best Third Hand Smoke Air Purifier?

None because air purifiers cannot deal with third-hand smoke. It can only capture airborne particles like smoke or odor. Third-hand smoke is an invincible, residual chemical from a cigarette. It can be found clinging on surfaces e.g. clothes, furniture, bedding, carpet, and wall. The exposed residual would stack up over time and react to other toxic substances. this would create toxic that is hazardous to even to non-smoker. Unless you could stay in a smoke-free environment, third-hand smoke would remain for months on things it touches.

• Toys - Soft toys, rubber toys, Barbie dolls, teethers, Lego, action figures
• Clothes and accessories - Cap, hijab, scarf, gloves, shirt, dress, coat, and even your undergarment
• Furniture – Any type of upholstery from sofa, armchairs, couches, ottoman.
• Bedroom and linen - Pillows, bed sheets, blankets, comforter,headboards, mattresses
• Flooring – Floorboard and natural stone tiles e.g. wood, vinyl, sandstone, ceramic, granite, porcelain
• Wall and ceiling - Drywall, brick, lath, plywood, wallpaper, cement board, plaster, drop ceilings, ceiling planks
• Curtain and carpet - Drapes, blinds, shades, animal skin rug, Saxony, frieze, office carpet tiles
• Air vents – Appliances that allow air to pass in and out e.g. air purifier, air conditioner, ventilation fan, heating system
• Personal belongings – Hair, mobile phone/ iPad cover, handbag, backpack, watch with leather or nylon strap
• Vehicle interior – Dashboard and upholstery
• Hair - Long or short no exclusion

How Long Does Third hand Smoke Last?

Depends on the volume of the buildup. Third-hand smoke residues will remain in its place even after months of quitting. This is according to a study done by researchers at San Diego State University. When a home stayed smoke-free for 6 months, user will have a significant drop of nicotine on their fingers and body. Unfortunately, the levels of nicotine and carcinogen substances in a home remained unchanged. This is because the toxic residues have penetrated into the porous items e.g. wood, fabric or carpet. Unless there is some form of action taken, all family members will be exposed to the smoke compounds. Putting their health in perpetual risk.

Smoking cessation does play a big part in reducing the number of smoke buildup. The lesser the buildup, the less third-hand smoke residue will be.

Due to the limited researches on third-hand smoke, some of the information is dated a few years back. Use it sparingly.

How To Get Rid of Thirdhand Smoke?

There is no doubt about the negative health effects third-hand smoke brings to the table. Unlike secondhand smoke, third-hand smoke leaves residues toxin that will not go away. The residues will penetrate deep into porous materials and accumulate over time. In long-run, your house will be filled with unpleasant odor as traditional ways of airing out a room don't cut it.

Below are some simple but often neglected tips you could do to reduce the danger of third-hand smoke.

1. Do not smoke - If you must, smoke near a window or in an open-space area. Wash your hands after smoke and if possible.
2. Choose your spot - Avoid hanging out in common places e.g. bar that allows smokers to smoke indoor. After an outing with smokers, change your cloth straight away when you’re back home.
3. Keep it clean - Wash all your clothes, bedding, children toys regularly or when exposed to third-hand smoke. Very important especially if you have children.
4. Replace when needed - The residues from third-hand smoke will stack up over time. Reupholster and re-carpet when washing proves no avail. Replace smoke-filled, household objects that are beyond redemption.
5. Routine housekeeping - Mop the floor at least weekly. For hard surfaces, use natural ingredients like baking soda or household detergent. Clean tabletop, air vent, counter, shelf to avoid third-hand smoke from building up.
6. Turn on an air purifier and keep it on - Reduce the housekeeping workload and prevent the toxic from re-spreading, especially in the kitchen.
7. Choose wisely - Avoid purchasing a home that smells unless you plan to knock down the entire place for renovation. Alternatively, hire a professional cleaner to perform a thorough cleaning before moving in.
8. Ozone generator - Yes, the notorious ozone generator. It can remove parts of the odor stuck to porous material but beware. Improper use of ozone generator at home will have reverse health effects to your body.

Health Benefits Of a Smoke Air Purifier

Everyone knows the danger of smoking but most people choose to ignore it. Not only it will lead to smoker's breath that can be annoying on its own, smoking will also increase the risk of cancer on the nose, voice box, and liver. If you are a smoker or constantly breathing in to second-hand, you are at risk of following diseases.

• Lung Cancer
• Oropharyngeal Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• COPD (Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema)
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Aortic Aneurysm
• Cataracts

To tackle smoke and the chemical residues, a smoke air purifier will be beneficial to our health. It is proven again and again through government agencies, various studies, and researches. The strong airflow will swiftly pull in smoke particles to the carbon filter and prevent us from inhaling to the harmful toxic. The most obvious benefit is smoke air purifiers will get rid of the foul, lingering cigarette smell. In the long-run, it will reduce the risk of getting cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. We will also less likely to trigger asthma and allergic reactions. This includes shortness of breath, hay fever, skin aging, itchy eyes, and other irritations. If you have a baby at home, an air purifier will ensure their immune system development is not compromised. So make sure to invest in a good mechanical air purifier with a carbon filter for a healthier living lifestyle.

What To Look For When Buying a Smoker Air Purifier

Whether is first-hand or second-hand, inhaling to cigarette smoke is bad. Prolonged exposure to the toxic can cause lung diseases, trigger a heart attack, or cancer. A good air purifier needs to be ready and stand guard all the time from all the ongoing pollutants. To achieve that, look out for the below tips in choosing the best smoker air purifier.

1. Cost of ownership - Don’t just look at the purchasing price. An air purifier filters need to be replaced and in long-run, it’s going to cost you.
2. Size and weight - A good air purifier tends to be large and bulky. If you smoke on your desk or on a fixed spot, you may consider a smaller, space-saving air purifier.
3. Airflow delivery rate - The higher the airflow output, the more ciggy chemicals will be absorbed by the carbon filter. The same applies to cigarette smell.
4. Room size - Highly depends on where the smoke activities are. You will need a bigger air purifier for the living hall and a smaller air purifier for the bedroom. We recommend looking at the coverage based on 4 air changes per hour.
5. Smoke CADR - Official measurement by AHAM that is only available on participant air purifier. In most cases, CADR above 150 cfm would be decent enough in capturing cigarette vapor and odor.
6. Carbon filter - The key filtration. Avoid going for thin carbon sheet filter that barely removes any smoke particles. 2-in-1 carbon pre-filter is fine but preferably go with a dedicated carbon filter. Look for keywords like impregnated with odor removing granular, carbon or zeolite.
7. Auto mode - We recommend turning the air purifier on 24x7 even when there is no smoker around. Auto mode will manage the airflow speed when a high smoke level is detected.
8. Power consumption and noise level - Pick those with Auto, Sleep or Eco mode. Most air purifiers have a similar range of power usage with the exception of few powerhouse machines. Noise level is less important since most smokers don’t smoke on their bed.
9. Branding reputation - Air purifier today have better reliability than the price tag might suggest otherwise. For ultimate peace of mind, choose the one that offers the longest warranty period. Look into details what does the warranty cover e.g. 1-to-1 exchange. After service support and location is also another thing to consider.

Other Types of Air Purifiers for Smoke

Other than the mechanical air cleaners that we highly recommend, there are alternative types of air purifiers in the market. Some are generally a better odor remover while others use a more eco-friendly purification technique. Through different or combined technology to remove smoke particles, let's explore each variant and how it works.

• HEPA: Relying on a fiberglass filter to trap microscopic particles including bacteria and viruses. Most HEPA air purifiers will combine with pre-filter and carbon filter to complete the purification cycle. There are two types of HEPA filter: True HEPA filter with 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 microns or lower, or HEPA-type filter with 99% efficiency as small as 2 microns. A true HEPA filter has to reach industry-standard i.e. IEST, UL.
• Carbon: AKA odor eliminator, a carbon air purifier will eliminate all smoke impurities including chemical fumes. Through its porous absorption materials such as zeolite, granular, charcoal, or carbon sheet, and baking soda. Basically it captures what HEPA filter can't and is best paired with other filtration.
• UV/ Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Cleaner: UVGI is a common disinfection or sterilizing technology used in many cleaning appliances. Instead of using a conventional fan, it uses Ultraviolet light kills to cells through molecules reaction. UV light itself can destroy microbes, bacteria, smoke, and odor. You can find UV air purifier as a standalone unit or part of the combined filtration.
• Ionizer: Not to be confused with an ozone generator where we will touch on later. An ionizer is a filterless technology that will take down airborne contaminants including smoke. By releasing negative ions into the air, the ions will then stick to positive ions particles. This causes an increased weight therefore the merged particles will fall to the ground. However, ionizer will not eliminate the pollutants, unlike UV light. The smoke and odor will still be scattered around the house and can be stirred back up in the air. It is best to pair ionizer technology with a mechanical filter that will trap the fallen particles.
• Electrostatic Precipitator: Think about it as an upgraded version to an ionizer with vented collector plates. An electrostatic will release millions of negative ions to combine with positive ion particles. The heavier particles will drop, a fan will draw it to the charged plates and trap it. The entire process is eco-friendly as the plates are washable and reusable for life. Keep in mind though the smoke particles from cigar or cigarette might redeposit back to the air during washing. It is also less effective than an air purifier with HEPA and an activated carbon filter.
• Ozone Generator/ Ozonator: The only no-no on the list. It is once touted the miracle, fast pace odor and germs removal which EPA has disproved. It is also falsely advertised as the only device that would kill odors that have stained a household. In reality, the strong ozone smell will actually numb our senses thus masking any smoke odors. Inhaling to ozone is also extremely detrimental to our health. It will lead to choking, thin out lung tissue cells, aggravate asthma, and lung cancer. Never buy an ozone generator to get rid of smoke or odor.

What Are The Benefits Of A Smoker Air Purifiers?

There are many advantages VS a few disadvantages to choosing a smoke air purifier for everyday use. For those still unsure how effective it is, here are the top reasons why an air purifier can be a game-changer in dealing with gaseous pollutants.

Pros

• Less smoke and odors - Whether a cat or dog, an air purifier will effectively remove any allergens derived from domestic pets. Very helpful for those allergic to pets yet staying in a home with one.
• Better indoor air quality - An air purifier will swiftly clean out all types of smoke and chemical, even the most harmful ones. Without the smoke and odors lingering in your room, you will breathe better and less likely to go down with allergies.
• Improve well-being - Like most air purifiers, a smoke-oriented air cleaner can truly benefit your mental and physical state. Clean air makes you less stressed, less anxious, focus better, and overall happier.
• Better sleep quality - An smoke air purifier with a HEPA filter can help you achieve sound sleep and feeling refresh the next day. Not bad for a tiny little device by the bedside.
• Easy ownership - Most air purifiers for smoke and odor use mechanical filtration that requires little cleaning and care. Just change the activated carbon filter when it is time.

Cons

• Additional cost - Smoke air purifiers that use a top-quality carbon filter can be expensive to own and replace over a basic HEPA air cleaner. That's just the way it is.
• Additional noise - To accommodate the larger carbon filter, a bigger motor fan is needed to pull in smoke particles which can lead to some undesirable noise. You will also have to adapt to the bulkier body that can be tricky to place in a small home.

Is Air Purifier For Smoke Safe?

Air purifiers that remove smoke and odors are safe as it uses only mechanical filtration. It will not release harmful byproducts, like ozone, and it is certified by CARB and AHAM.

How Much Energy Does A Smoke Air Purifier Use?

Most air purifiers that use a carbon filter for smoke odor consume little energy under 30 watts, depending on the fan speed. On average, the monthly electrical cost will be under $5 or $60 yearly with 24 hours of operation.

How To Use An Air Purifier For Smoke Effectively?

There are a lot of restrictions on using an air purifier effectively for smoke. To help you get started, here are a few simple steps to get the best out of a smoker's air purifier.

• 24-hour continuous operation - Air purifiers are designed to run all the time without fail. It prevents airborne particles from building up and contaminating the indoor air when we are away.
• Check and replace all filters - Smoker air purifier filters like HEPA and carbon must be replaced regularly. For optimal performance, keep spare filters at home so you can replace them instantly when necessary.
• Place it by the doorway - Doing so allows more smoke particles and lingering odor to be captured. Leave a couple of feet between the smoke air purifier and the door to avoid airflow disruption.
• Close windows and doors - Otherwise, outside smoke pollutants will enter, pushes clean air out, and undo all the air purifier smoke-removing efforts.

How Long Do Air Purifiers for Smoke Odors Last?

Most smoke air purifiers will easily last 5 to 10 years, depending on the usage volume and maintenance. Disposable air filters like HEPA and carbon filters will last 6 to 12 months before replacement.

Is It OK To Leave The Air Purifier For Smoke Odor On All Night?

Yes, it is OK to leave your air purifier with an activated carbon filter on all night during sleep. An air purifier that handles smoke odor is designed to run safely and clean the air 24/7 without breaking down. If you turn off the device, dirty air will return and pollute the indoor air. Make sure the filter is in good condition, as it will trap a heavy amount of dust particulates.