We all know that smoking is bad for your health and the health of those around you. Cigarette, cigar, and weed smoke contains harmful particles and compounds. But, it’s time we accept the fact that people are going to smoke. And, maybe more importantly, that it takes time for people to squash a habit. So while we wait for “it” to sink in, we’d like to provide a little assistance to the smokers out there. After all, an air purifier is likely their best ally in the fight against being ostracized for smoking in thier home or apartment. Plus, even if a smoker pops out onto a patio or stoop, that smoke odor can linger and some find it overwhelming.
So here’s our advice… listen up smokers. To help reduce smoke’s negative impact on indoor air quality you will need an air purifier that scrubs the air of particles and absorbs odor. Without immediately diving into the details, an air purifier for smoke will come equipped with a HEPA filter and activated charcoal (aka carbon). Don’t get roped into some hype that proclaims all you need are negative ions and all will be good. You need activated carbon; or more specifically the carbons adsorption (not absorb… adsorb). So, whether you’re waiting to kick the habit or just looking for a way to get friends and family off your back, read on and see what you’ll need to kill that lingering smoke.
Our Top Picks for an Air Purifier for Smoke
Rabbit Air MinusA2 SPA-700A
We first came across this model while searching for a purifier that could tackle cigar odor and smoke. An older article in Cigar Aficionado ignited the ensuing journey down the proverbial rabbit hole.
Rabbit Air offers some of the best looking and best performing in-home air purifiers available. Their biggest drawback, they are fairly expensive. However, don’t assume that their price is not justified. These machines are a great value. Here are just a few reasons we recommend this air purifier for smoke and odor.
- Covers 700 Square Feet
- BioGS HEPA filtration
- Six stage air purification and deodorization
- Available Wall Mount
- 5 Year Warranty
- Energy-efficient Brushless Motor
- Energy Star Certified
- Mood Lighting!
Austin Air Allergy Machine
These US-built powerhouse air purification machines are great at removing odor and airborne allergens. The steel body houses a medical grade HEPA filter and more activated carbon than any similarly-sized competitor.
While Austin Air may not craft the sleekest looking air purifiers, they are renowned for their quality. Built in the United States the boxy shape houses an enormous filter (roughly 60 square feet of HEPA surface area) and one of the best odor absorbing carbon filters you can buy.
- Covers 750 Square Feet
- Huge HEPA Filter
- Military Grade HEGA Cloth
- Low Maintenance
- Infrequent Filter Replacement
- Steel Construction
- Made in the USA
- 5 Year Warranty
- Positive Reviews
GERMGUARDIAN AC4825
If the Rabbit Air were compared to a car, it would be an exotic high performance piece of automotive art. Impressive design backed up by solid performance metrics.
The vehicular parallel to the Austin Air? Perhaps a large, reliable pickup truck. It gets the job done, large or small, with hardly any maintenance or fuss.
So, what if you’re looking for a efficient air purifier for smoke that does a great job without breaking the bank? Look no further than the GermGuardian 4800 series. Think of it as a competitively-priced four door sedan that will never let you down. We selected it as a best value for 2017, and its ability to tackle smoke was a big factor in that tough decision.
- Covers 155 Square Feet
- HEPA Filter
- Pre-Filter with Integrated Carbon
- Cheap Replacement Filters
- Tons of Great Reviews
More Information on Air Purifiers for Smoke
The Challenge of Battling Smoke
If you are a smoker, live with a cigar aficionado, or partake in smoking weed; it’s almost impossible to keep your home free that intrusive smoke odor. Even when you send smokers outside, smoke has a way of creeping into your home or workplace. So whether you smoke indoors or out, an air purifier built with smokers in mind will help keep odors, gases, and smoke at bay.
*We highly recommend that you read up on secondhand smoke and understand its risks. While the air purifiers we recommend will help reduce odor and smoke within a room, they will not prevent unfiltered smoke from harming children or loved ones who are present when you are smoking.
The majority of off the shelf air purifiers you will encounter cannot remove smoke, odor or harmful gases from the air you breathe. They are typically built to remove things like dust, pollen and lint. To understand how to remove smoke, you must consider what comprises smoke.
- Larger airborne particles that make up the smoke you see
- Microscopic odor causing particles
- Harmful Gases
The larger particles that you can see are larger than .3 microns. Therefore, a HEPA filter will easily scrub the air of the smoke you can see. However, for gases and particles smaller than .3 microns you will need additional means for purification. One of the best is activated carbon (or charcoal). It is very porous and does a great job absorbing almost anything it touches.
Why Would a Smoker Need an Air Purifier for Smoke?
If we are honest with ourselves; smoking outside is not always possible or convenient. Granted there are tons of laws and rules put in place that discourage to indoor smoking. However, in reality people will continue to smoke indoors. If we can help improve their air quality, it’s a small step in the right direction.
So if you insist on smoking cigarettes, cigars, or weed indoors an air purifier will make a huge impact. It will help with the smell as well as the lingering haze. It is important to point out that a large contributor to the lingering smell is odor absorbed by fabric surfaces. Reducing the amount of carpet, fabric-covered furniture, and other textiles in your home or apartment will greatly reduce residual smoke odors.