When it comes to cleaning the air when comparing a box fan with filter vs. air purifier, which exactly is more effective? Most people have tried putting a filter system over a box fan, hoping to have a DIY solution for filtering the air from harmful pollutants. However, is this method effective?
From our experience, it’s better to leave the air cleaning to the professionally-made devices. Not all air purifiers are pricey – some are budget-friendly and will do the job. Box fans are meant to blow air and putting a filter system over them is another story.
We all want to live in a world where we can breathe fresh air without having to spend a lot. This is why we wrote this article to inform you of the effectiveness of using a box fan with a filter versus using an air purifier.
Are box fan air purifiers effective?
Yes, box fan air purifiers are effective, but only if they have the right filters and if they are cleaned/maintained properly and regularly! An air purifier fan combo is a good choice for those with a lack of space and yet they want to have additional air circulation in their home.
By having good airflow in your indoor setting, you are helping the air purifier filter out dust and other pollution properly. If you don’t have sufficient airflow, how will your air purifier catch all of the pet hair and dander? How can they filter out tobacco smoke if the source is meters away from the air purifier?
With that said, it also helps to have additional airflow methods, such as opening doors and windows when there’s smoke (such as tobacco or cooking smoke), but not all the time! You only need to open them to help air out your house so that your air purifier won’t suffer as much. Too much smoke in one room will likely clog an air purifier’s delicate filters, decreasing their lifespan.
Is it safe to put a filter on a box fan?
In theory, a box filter DIY setup will work if it is designed carefully. However, keep in mind that box fans aren’t meant to have a filter over them, which means that the fan won’t run as powerful as you think it would be. Box fans are only designed to cool you down, so putting an air filter over them is something relatively questionable.
You may be doing more harm than good to your fan because the filter you will install over it won’t be properly sealed as compared to an air purifier or filtration system. If you don’t know what you are doing, it can even start a fire!
Instead of doing this DIY setup, why not try a tower fan with an air purifier? These 2-in-1 units will not only move air around your house or room but will also filter the air from harmful pollutants! For those who don’t have the luxury of space, this type of air purifier will be a great solution for you!
If you have a box fan, it’s best to leave it for its intended purpose – to blow air and promote circulation. However, an air purifier with a specifically-designed fan is more suitable for the job because it has been rigorously tested by experts (and likely won’t cause accidents in your home).
Likewise, using an air purifier together with a box fan will yield better results if your indoor setting often involves smoke and cooking smells. This will help air out your home (or workplace) so that your air purifier can take it easy when it comes to filtering.
Which type of fan is used in an air purifier?
An air purifier fan is much like regular fans, except they are designed to suck air inwards so that they can filter it from dust, dirt, pollutants, and the like. While a regular electric fan blows wind away, air purifiers are like automatic vacuum cleaners with a gentler touch.
These fans work similarly to regular electric fans because you can select different speeds for them. The fan must be strategically placed under (or on the right side) of the filters (e.g. pre-filter, HEPA, and carbon filters) to suck air from the other side and blow it as clean air outwards.
Compared to regular fans, an air purifier fan is typically smaller. This makes the unit run significantly less noisy, which is why air purifiers are also great sleeping buddies. Not only are they essential in the air purifying process but they also won’t disturb your beauty rest too much – especially if your air purifier has an “eco mode” where the fan speed is considerably low.
Do box fan filters work?
Box fan filters have been all over the place due to their proponents claiming that they can help fight diseases. While the filters can trap small particles, the accuracy of this box fan setup remains a little questionable since a box fan, as we said above, was not initially designed to take a filter on top.
While it can work when set up properly, it won’t be as effective as an air purifier that comes with a powerful fan. Simply taping the filter over the box fan may sound simple and cost-effective at first, but if not done properly, it will not capture everything and could leak on the sides.
We advise getting an air purifier instead – there are many options out there that are budget-friendly and suitable for different room sizes. There is an air purifier for nearly every situation or living setup – for office desks, gyms, bedrooms, kitchens, and more. Air purifiers are more accurate since the fan that comes with the unit was precisely built for the cleaning job.
Conclusion
Bottom line: having a DIY box fan set up with a filter isn’t a good idea if you want to save money in the long run. There are plenty of choices out there for the best and cheapest air purifier that won’t break the bank and will filter your indoor air efficiently!
