What is an Air Scrubber and How Does It Work?

what is air scrubber how it works

We do everything we can to protect our homes from the outside world. However, you’ll be shocked to know that the air we breathe inside our homes can be as polluted as the air outdoors. Your place might be jam-packed with harmful substances from out of doors. A lack of ventilation can result in mold and bacteria inside your home.

Not sure where to start? That is when air scrubbers come into action. If you are wondering how they are any different from air purifiers, you can find a detailed comparison of the two in the article on Air Scrubber vs Air Purifier.

Coming back to air scrubbers, they restore the freshness of the air around you by getting rid of harmful substances. If you are eager to know about how air scrubbers work, read on.

What is an Air Scrubber?

what is air scrubber how it works

source: classicairconditioningandheating.com

To understand how an air scrubber works, let’s have a quick review of what it does. As the name suggests, an air scrubber is a portable filtration device that cleans the air around you to free it from air pollutants. It sucks in all the air from the environment, sifts out harmful elements, and recirculates it.

If you live in a polluted neighborhood, toxic chemicals and harmful substances such as dust particles, mold, and chemical fumes can settle in your carpets and furniture. The negative ions from the scrubber attach to these surfaces to clean them.

The size of the scrubber depends on the kind of usage required. A single unit can filter the air in areas as large as hundreds of square feet. That makes it ideal for commercial use. Air scrubbers cost more than air purifiers, but they are cost-effective and efficient.

How Does an Air Scrubber Work?

what is air scrubber how it works

source: youtube.com

Now that you know what an air scrubber is, let’s see how it works. An air scrubber draws in air from the surroundings, passes it through different filters to clean it from toxic gases or dangerous substances and blows it out.

First, the filter sucks in air and passes it through a pre-filter. It captures the larger particles from the air. Then, the air is further refined by a primary filter that removes particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Primary Filters

Two types of primary filters differentiate air scrubbers from one another: wet scrubber and dry scrubber.

A wet scrubber is a damp filter with fluid that traps toxic components of the air. On the contrary, a dry scrubber makes use of a sorbent or absorbing material to trap toxic air particles. Then, the blower blows out the purified air. The blower has to match the power of the filter system for maximum efficiency.

There are different types of air scrubbers, depending on the types of filters they use. A few air scrubbers also make use of a high-efficiency particulate absorbing or HEPA filter to clean the air.

You may also like to read about Best Vacuum Cleaners under $1000

Benefits of Air Scrubbers

what is air scrubber how it works

source: sdacpa.com

An air scrubber is beneficial for various indoor spaces. These include homes, daycares, baby nurseries, hospitals, worksites, etc. Some benefits are as follows.

Good Air Quality

The first and foremost advantage of an air scrubber is good quality indoor air. An air scrubber removes toxic gases and harmful substances from the air. 

If you live close to the road, smoke and other unwanted pollutants can easily enter your home. Install an air scrubber, and you don’t have to worry about car smoke, dust, or anything toxic entering your home.

Reduced Airborne Allergies

Secondly, an air scrubber removes molds, pet odor, and allergens from your home. If you keep facing respiratory issues, it is essential to purify the air in your home to avoid any terrible diseases.

An air scrubber makes the air safe to breathe for people with respiratory problems or those who catch allergies quickly. It effectively reduces:

  • Asthma attacks
  • Coughs
  • Headaches
  • Runny nose
  • Eye infections
  • Fatigue

Extended HVAC Lifespan

Although air scrubbers are favorable for large scale use, smaller sized scrubbers are great for purifying the air inside homes. If you can get one installed with the HVAC system of your home, it will increase its lifespan.

It does that by removing air particles that would contaminate the HVAC system. That means, minor or no repairs and fewer power bills.

Summary

what is air scrubber how it works

source: medium.com

An air scrubber is proven to reduce pollutants in homes. It protects your home from the dirty air and problems caused by airborne toxins.

It not only purifies the air around you, but it also cleans the surfaces with contaminants settled in them. That means a 100% safe environment for you and your family.

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