Typically, the first piece of equipment to enter into people’s mind when they think about cleaning the air is the air purifier. However, another piece of equipment that is regularly used to clean the air in homes and businesses is air scrubbers. An air scrubber is a portable filtration system that can be used to remove pollutants from the air. Air scrubbers draw in air from the environment and pass it through an internal filter to remove any contaminants.
How do they Work?
The air scrubbers have different methods of working but are generally developed using two main methods: dry scrubbing and wet scrubbing.
Dry Scrubbing
There are dry scrubbing air scrubbers available on the market that suck the pollutants out of the air to pass it through the dry filter to clean the air. Dry filters used in these scrubbers are made using absorbent material that is capable of removing large amounts of pollutants from the air. Depending on the filter, these dry air scrubbers can remove up to 99.97% of harmful particles from the air. If an activated carbon filter is installed, they can also remove malodorous gases from the air.
Wet Scrubbing
For air scrubbers that utilise the wet scrubbing method, the difference from dry scrubbing lies in the filter. There is a damp pad filter that will tap the free-floating pollutants in the air. Through this method, up to 99% of contaminants can be removed from the air.
Why Use an Air Scrubber?
They are most commonly used to eliminate dust particles and mould spores as part of a property restoration process. They can also be used to ensure that indoor air is free of any harmful contaminants. The indoor environment is not free of pollutants as one might assume. In fact, indoor air can have twice the amount of germs than outdoors. Since most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, ensuring that the air is free of pollutants is important. Poor air quality may lead to symptoms such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as fatigue, dizziness and headaches (1).
Air scrubbers can be used in industrial applications, especially where there are high levels of pollutants present, such as on building sites. Air scrubbers can be used to keep the air quality high, protecting workers from health risks and symptoms related to poor air quality and contamination by particular harmful substances (e.g. wood dust, silica dust).
Specifications to Consider when Choosing an Air Scrubber
There are many air scrubbers to choose from on the market. While purchasing an air scrubber consider the following specifications.
Airflow
The airflow of a scrubber is measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) or Cubic Metres per Hour (CMH). This specification details the volume of air that the air scrubber can process in a given time frame. The larger the CFM or CMH, the quicker the scrubber can process air, and the larger area it can effectively clean. Air scrubbers are generally available in the range of 150 to 2000 CFM.
Speed
Air scrubbers are available for purchase in single and multi-speed units. Speed settings generally control the CFM or CMH that the air scrubber runs at. Often the power required to run an air scrubber will change depending on the speed and airflow settings that it features.
Filtration
Without a good filtration system, the air scrubber fails in its purpose and becomes useless. There are many brands with proven effective filtration systems. Many air scrubbers come with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that are able to remove up to 99.97% of the contaminants from the air. Some air scrubbers also have the option of adding an additional activated carbon filter. Activated carbon filters (2) can be used to filter minute particles and gases from the air, and are therefore useful for cleansing the air from gas, smoke and other odours.
Size
Air scrubbers come in different sizes, and this must be taken into account when choosing one to buy or hire. Some spaces in buildings that require air purification are small, requiring a compact machine to be able to access the space. Other spaces are large, requiring bigger machines capable of running at higher airflow rates.
Guidelines for using Air Scrubber
Air scrubbers can only be used to clean the air. A misconception made by some people is that using the air scrubber means the whole room is clean. While the air in a space can be purified using an air scrubber, the surfaces must also be cleaned if the whole space is to be considered clean.
Clean after use. After you are done using the air scrubber the filter needs to be safely disposed of, and the device itself needs to be cleaned. This is to prevent any cross-contamination from one area to another.
Set up correctly to ensure effectiveness. The air scrubber should also be placed in the centre of the room to ensure it reaches every part of it. While working in large areas it is better to have more than one scrubber to finish the job quickly and more effectively. Additionally, it is suggested to use air movers (fans) to increase the circulation of air in the room. Thus ensuring that every bit of air can be cleaned by the air scrubber.
Ask questions before buying or hiring. If you are unsure of anything when purchasing or hiring an air scrubber, it is recommended that you ask the supplier to answer your questions. Some of the most common and helpful questions to ask can be found in this article.
Popular brands of Air Scrubbers
To make sure the air is purified and that the machine is reliable, purchasing an efficient air scrubber should be the priority. Whether it is for use in homes, businesses, industrial sites or restoration projects, it is important to ensure the air scrubber can effectively protect people from hazardous matter in the air. There are various air scrubbers available on the market that use different methods of filtering the air, are different sizes and have different airflow rates. A few of the most popular air scrubbers are listed below:
- Dri-Eaz HEPA 500
- Pheonix Guardian R HEPA Air Scrubber
- Novair 1000 HEPA Air Scrubber
- Novair 2000 HEPA Air Scrubber
- Husqvarna A 1000
- Husquvarna A 2000
References:
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
- How Stuff Works. (2000). What is activated charcoal and why is it used in filters? https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question209.htm