The most effective smoke defectors have a HEPA filter, which uses a fan to force air through a fine mesh to trap particles. The best air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters can reduce particulate matter concentrations by up to 85 percent, according to the EPA. Even the lowest quality filter will trap most of the particles that hang in the air. But for finer particles, a higher quality filter is necessary.
There is always the option of making your own handmade filter, but assembling your own blunt filter is not the right way to do it. The only way to filter harmful contaminants such as resins and tar from marijuana smoke is through the use of a triple layer carbon filter. MouthPeace Mini by Moose Labs is the only blunt filter that has a triple-layer activated carbon filtration system. One of the most effective ways to clean indoor smoke is to connect a MERV 13 oven filter to a box fan.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tested this method with air monitors and found that a box fan filter drastically reduced particles in the air. To eliminate smoke, look for an air purifier that is equipped with HEPA and carbon filters. HEPA filters are designed to remove particles of all sizes and are considered standard in quality air purifiers. In general, the best air purifiers for smoke have several types of filters to trap small particles and gases. There are some air purifiers with two types of filtration, such as a HEPA filter combined with a carbon filter.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know if a system can use a higher efficiency filter, since HVAC systems are not usually labeled with any filter recommendations. People can use HEPA filters to filter particles in the air, but smoke is much more than just particles. Beware of some air purifiers that say they are best for smoke, but only filter one type of pollutant. Most ovens and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating problems for the equipment, provided that the filter is replaced frequently. You can still make an effective filter by holding it to the back of the running fan and letting the suction hold the filter in place.
For most, blunt filters are used for better results, but more studies show that lung health depends on whether or not the correct filter is used for blunt filters. As mentioned above, air purifiers are usually designed with a single technology: they filter particles or filter gases. The best option for wildfire smoke if you want to filter both particles and gases is a PECO air purifier. Whether patients can upgrade their filter or not, the filter must fit properly in the filter slot and be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer. The best air purifiers for smoke odors include a carbon filter as a short-term solution (although these should be replaced frequently if there are high levels of smoke), or a Molekule air purifier as a long-term solution.
