You probably needed to deal with pollution indoors due to household chemicals, so you might wonder: can an air purifier remove chemical fumes? We wrote this article to inform you and to tell you all about how air purifiers are a good solution to keeping your indoor air safe from harsh chemical pollution.
The secret of its cleaning capability is in the filters that an air purifier uses – most of them use HEPA for dust and activated carbon for odor. If you’ve always complained “my house never smells fresh” then it might be time for you to use an air purifier for your home or indoor space.
With the right air purifier for the job (including filters and maintenance), coupled with proper house cleaning, as well as using eco-friendlier home renovation (paint and sealants) and cleaning products, you’ll have clean and healthy indoors in no time.
How do I get rid of toxic fumes in my house?
If you are suffering from toxic fumes in your house, you will need to neutralize the smell and also air out your home. Usually, toxic smells come from a newly-purchased house or if you’ve recently done some home improvements or renovation (e.g. painting, sealing, etc.) and the smell of the chemicals is strong.
Aside from opening windows to let the air out, you’ll also need the help of an air purifier. However, keep in mind that not all air purifiers are meant for taking out VOCs (volatile organic compounds) – you’ll need both a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter in the air purifier for it to work against bad odor.
If you have an electric fan to move the air, you can use this to drive the bad smell away from your house. This will also lessen the work of an air purifier when it comes to neutralizing bad odors and it might even prolong the lifespan of your filters.
Alternatively, if you want a kitchen remedy, you can use baking soda and vinegar to help neutralize the smell. You can use this mixture (you can even add salt) on a bowl to let it dissipate in the air or use it to clean surfaces of areas where you smell a lot of chemical fumes from.
If you can, before you start your home renovation, choose paint and/or sealants that don’t emit too much bad smell (which are also eco-friendly). Thinking about the environment will help remove these chemicals in your home, so if there are eco-friendly products available, prioritize those.
Last but not least, you can get an inspector at home if you believe that it could be a gas leak or a similar problem. They might point out where the leak is coming from. Even if you had an air purifier and cleaned your home regularly, if there is a gas leak then it won’t stop the odor from coming.
Do air purifiers remove fumes?
As air purifiers are mostly made to take out dust, you might be wondering: do air purifiers remove VOCs? Yes, they do! The science at work here is the activated carbon filter, so make sure your air purifier has this filter before you buy.
The activated carbon filter (sometimes called a charcoal filter) absorbs the bad smell and makes your indoor space fresh and clean. Activated carbon not only works for VOCs but also for smoke odor, pet smells, cooking odors, and the like. This is why most people use air purifiers for the kitchen.
VOCs are harmful to your health and they may even cause problems in the long run, which is why they shouldn’t be in your home. Air purifiers can remove fumes that have VOCs so you’ll enjoy healthier and safer air to breathe – especially if you are around kids, the elderly, or people with asthma and allergies.
With that said, make sure to always check if the activated carbon filter is still okay to be used. Most of these filters will last 1 to 2 years depending on the manufacturer. This is to ensure that your air purifier will still remove fumes once you turn it on.
Moreover, for an air purifier to remove the toxic fumes, we prefer to leave it in auto mode and run 24/7 so that any instance of chemical smells will be instantly eliminated – even when you are asleep or going outside of the house.
Do HEPA filters remove chemicals?
No – HEPA filters can only remove dust particles from the air. If you want your air purifier to remove chemical fumes, it needs to have an activated carbon filter, which will remove the funky smell from the air and keep your indoors smelling fresh and clean.
As mentioned above, all air purifiers are different – look for a unit with both a HEPA and an activated carbon filter before you buy so that these indoor chemical fumes won’t bother your nose and lungs in the long run.
Do HEPA filters remove gases and vapors?
Unfortunately, no – HEPA filters are only meant for dust and smoke particles – they are not made to eliminate gases and vapors. What you will need is an activated carbon filter, which is seen in some of the best air purifiers to remove toxins or VOCs from the air.
When buying an air purifier to remove gases and vapors from the air you breathe, make sure to get one with an activated carbon filter. Once properly installed and regularly cleaned, your air purifier will do its job of cleaning your indoor air in no time.
Conclusion
Chemical fumes are never friendly to your lungs, which is why we want to get rid of them. With the combination of an air purifier, proper house cleaning, and the use of eco-friendlier products, we can enjoy a cleaner, healthier, and safer environment at home.
To summarize, you will need an air purifier that has an activated carbon filter to remove the smells from the indoor air that you breathe. We hope these tips helped you in keeping your home or office space fresh and clean from toxic chemical smells!
