Several companies offer special “wildlife smoke air purifiers”. However, this is simply a marketing scheme - any air purifier with True HEPA H13 or H14 can effectively filter smoke. Regular maintenance, such as timely filter replacements, will help maximize its performance over time.
HEPA filters not only remove the pungent odor of smoke, but filter the air significantly to rid it almost entirely of tobacco and other harmful substances to create air that is fresh, high quality, and safer to breathe.
H13-H14 HEPA are within the highest tier of HEPA air filtration and are considered medical-grade. “A HEPA grade of H13 can remove 99.95% of all particles in the air measuring 0.2 microns in diameter, while a HEPA grade H14 removes 99.995%,” says Nagl.
That said, a HEPA filter will do a very good job of eliminating the cigarette-smoke particles it encounters. That's because the majority of these particles fall in the 0.1 to 0.5 micron range, which HEPA filters are exceptionally good at capturing.
MERV Rating 14-20
These filters offer the highest level of filtration and are not usually needed for regular homes and businesses. An air filter with a MERV rating of 14-20 can remove smoke, bacteria, carbon dust, and viruses from the air. Highly rated filters like these are often used for hospitals and laboratories.
The abbreviation stands for Minimum Effective Reporting Value. In other words, it's a measurement showing how small the holes are in the filter. The higher the MERV number, the smaller the holes, and the less that can pass through. Ultimately, this is what makes MERV 14 filters not a good choice for home use.
Upgrading to a filter rated MERV 13 or higher can be especially important during smoky periods to effectively remove fine particle pollution from smoke in the indoor air. Most furnaces and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating equipment problems, provided that the filter is replaced frequently.
It is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air [filter]" (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy). This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).
Many people mistakenly believe smoking filtered cigarettes are safer than smoking non-filtered cigarettes. Filtered cigarettes are no safer than non-filtered. Filters do not protect you from bad chemicals and, in some ways, they may be more dangerous than non-filtered cigarettes.
HEPA filters for home use with a portable air purifier or central AC should be changed every 6 to 12 months.
The number describes how many particles in the range from 0.1 to 0.3 microns can be filtered out of the air. So, on an H12 filter the number is 99.5% . On an H14 filter the number is 99.995% .
MERV 14 to MERV 16 filters provide the highest level of filtration possible outside of a true HEPA filter. This type of filter is generally only used in certain industrial or laboratory settings as well as hospital inpatient rooms and general surgical rooms. Anything above MERV 16 is a true HEPA filter.
Do Commercial HEPA Filters Remove Vehicle Exhaust? Commercial HEPA filters are just one part of a complete defense against vehicle exhaust fumes. High-efficiency particulate air filters are especially effective at removing particulate matter (PM) found in vehicle exhaust, especially from diesel trucks.
One of the most effective ways to clean smoke from indoor environments is to attach a MERV 13 furnace filter to a box fan. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tested this method with air monitors and found that a box fan filter reduced airborne particulate matter dramatically.
They found that the most particles in tobacco smoke are sized between 0.1 µm and 1 µm with a peak between 0.2 µm and 0.25 µm [56].
HEPA filters will not remove most viruses, because they are simply too small. HEPA filters will also not remove VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, as they are also too small. Still, HEPA filter technology can be combined with other technologies that will remove these things from your air too.
The terms H13 and H14 refer to the Filter Filtration Class. While the H13 Filter has an efficiency (EN 1822) of 99,98% and an initial pressure drop (Pa) of 115, the H14 Filter has a slightly higher rating, with an efficiency (EN 1822) of 99,998% and pressure drop.
The first is related to their cost. A high-quality HEPA filter can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand depending on the size and model and the area to be covered. Secondly, they need to be regularly maintained and replaced in order to keep them working properly.
The most effective type of air purifier to use to remove tobacco smoke is called a 'Hepa' air purifier ( Hepa stands for High Efficient Particulate Arrestor).
The simplest thing you can do to purify air from smoke in your home is just opening windows. Letting in a cool breeze will help whisk away some of the smell and bring badly needed fresh air into the home. This can provide some immediate relief for rooms with a stronger presence of smoke in the air.
Air out your house
Open up the windows in your home and bring in some clean, fresh air. This will help dilute the smell. The best thing to do is to start ventilating your home as soon as you notice any smoke smells in the house – to stop it from sticking to any of your furniture or clothes.
We have an extensive guide to air purifiers, but the basic facts are these: According to the EPA, wildfire smoke predominantly consists of particles that are smaller than 10 microns. And true-HEPA air filters are exceptionally good at removing particles of that size from the air.
MERV 13-16 filters are capable of trapping 90% or more of particles in the 1.0-10.0 micron range. MERV 13 will prevent less than 75% of the 0.3-1.0 micron particles from passing through, MERV 14 will get up to 84%, MERV 15 up to 94% and MERV 16 can trap 95% or more of the smallest particles.
For smoke removal, HEPA filters are recommended as the gold standard for trapping fine particles, filtering out 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size.