Different from air purifiers, you might have heard about them, but how do air scrubbers work? In this article, we give you the details about air scrubbers, what they do, and how they operate.
Air scrubbers, typically bigger compared to air purifiers, are more for large-scale operations. You might see them in salons, construction sites, home renovations, and the like. They work mostly like air purifiers but there are a few differences, such as power and the filtering technology used.
We care about your air quality indoors, especially if you’re doing repairs or working at a job site. So, if you’re eyeing on getting an air scrubber for your next home remodeling project or your construction site, you might want to read on more about them before you buy, so you’ll know how they function and what to look for when choosing one.
What is the difference between an air purifier and an air scrubber?
Air purifiers and air scrubbers both have the job of cleaning the air from unhealthy pollutants. However, there are notable differences between them, such as the following:
| Feature | Air scrubber | Air purifier |
| Best used for |
|
|
| Installation | Can be a bit difficult | Usually easy |
| Filter system | Negative ion, sometimes HEPA filters, activated carbon is optional | True HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, sometimes UV-C |
| Price range | Usually expensive | Usually low to mid-range |
| Can be linked or stacked | Yes | No |
As you can see above, air scrubbers are more for industrial settings while air purifiers are ideal for homes, offices, and hospitals. While air scrubbers tend to be bulky and difficult to install, they have a lot of power as compared to a regular air purifier. Therefore, if you’re expecting a lot of dust, debris, and toxic fumes within the area (and it’s going to be a long time before it dissipates), go for an air scrubber.
How many air scrubbers do I need?
Most air scrubbers can be daisy-chained up to 4 and stacked in a row. You can do this by daisy-chaining them. Air scrubbers in the market also tend to have a stackable design, which allows you to put them together without losing valuable space in your area. This would be beneficial to businesses and industrial shops.
However, for best results, you can ask the manufacturer, as it depends on how big your area is. Nonetheless, most air scrubbers can work within 500 to 1,000 square feet of area, since they are made for industrial use.
Are air scrubbers effective?
Yes, definitely! Air scrubbers are effective in handling the following pollution problems:
- Mold problems. If the house smells when you walk in, mold can be a problem, especially if you are making water damage repairs at the moment. Sewage and attic areas are often at risk with mold – you’ll need an air scrubber if you want to get rid of them. For further reading, check out our article on “what are the best air scrubbers for mold?”.
- Toxic fumes. Harmful chemicals in the air are detrimental (harmful) to your health. They are often flying around when you’re making home repairs or when you’re in an industrial setting. To minimize toxic fumes in the air, an air scrubber will neutralize them.
- Construction dust. All the demolition work and masonry will create workplace dust. If you want to how to get rid of dust floating in the air in such situations, having an air scrubber within the job site will help lessen the pollutants that are harmful to your health.
- Other forms of air pollution. There can be forms of other air pollution, such as pet dander and pollen, that an air scrubber can handle, much like with air purifiers. However, they operate in a large-scale manner so if you’re a pet shop owner, having an air scrubber would be beneficial.
What is the best air scrubber?
If you want to find the best air scrubber out there, here are the key features you need to look for:
- Good filter system. Air scrubbers you will see on the market will mostly have HEPA filters, much like air purifiers, although they are meant for bigger operations. All of them have pre-filters but you may need to buy the activated carbon filter separately.
- Variable-speed. Most air scrubbers can be set between 200 and 500 CFM, which makes it ideal for different sizes of rooms so you don’t expend too much power. If you’re linking four air scrubbers at once, you can use this variable speed feature to customize the power of the entire set.
- Easy to install. Although we understand air scrubbers are nothing like air purifiers in terms of installation ease, having an air scrubber that has simple and straightforward parts plus a user’s manual would be great. Most of them state their inlet and outlet sizes in the product description and specifications for your reference.
- Durable roto-mold housing. What sets apart air scrubbers from air purifiers is their durable roto-mold housing, which makes them applicable for industrial use and bad weather. Many of the manufacturers of such air scrubbers even back up their housing with a 5-year warranty or so, which will put your mind at ease.
- Stackable. Many air scrubbers in the market have a special design that allows you to stack them together – ideal for areas with limited space.
- Daisy chain capable. This means you can combine up to 4 air scrubbers of the same brand to perform all at once, especially in a big area.
- Warranty policy. As we mentioned above, the roto-mold housing will usually have a 5-year warranty. On the other hand, most units will have a 1-year warranty for the other parts.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, air scrubbers work just as similarly as air purifiers, except on a bigger scale thanks to their design. That’s why they are more effective when you’re in a job site or handling home repairs with dust flying everywhere and water leakage running rampant. They will protect your home against mold, debris, and other forms of pollution.
