The Benefits of Activated Carbon Filters
When purchasing an air purifier it’s important to know what kind of technology will best suit your needs. A HEPA filter is the standard in air purifiers, but what are the advantages of adding an activated carbon filter to your portable purification system?
Activated carbon filters have the ability to filter out finer airborne substances. These finer gases and chemicals include toxic gases, smoke, and other invisible hazards to the lungs.
What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?
Activated carbon filters will clean airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and smoke, including wildfire smoke. These dangerous VOCs include benzene, a hazardous irritant that can be released from a gas leak.
Air purifiers with activated carbon filters can also filter out dangerous VOCs that come from common household items like:
- Cleaning products and disinfectants
- Paint, paint strippers, and other solvents
- Off-gassing from new furniture, carpets, or wood flooring
- Air fresheners and moth repellents
- Perfumes
- Scented candles with paraffin wax
- Aerosol sprays
- Pesticide
- Gasoline, other stored fuels, and automotive products
Exposure to VOCs can create side effects like eye irritation and headaches, but cleaning these VOCs from your indoor air can help you avoid exposure and symptoms.
Carbon Filtration Captures Heavy Odors and Gases
Odors and smells are also caught in an activated carbon filter so having an air purifier with a carbon filter is ideal for:
- Kitchen smells from food and smoke, although this can take 24-48 hours to fully remove
- Nursery smells from diaper pails and VOCs from fresh paint and new furniture
- Bathrooms for mold odor and mold spores
