If you desire to get rid of air pollution in your home or office, then getting a reliable and efficient air scrubber is a priority. Indoor air pollution is harmful to our health, so it’s vital to improve the quality of air in large areas such as warehouses, commercial buildings, and our homes.
Air scrubbers are useful for improving the quality of our indoor air. It is a technology that cleans out contaminants in the air, serving as an air purifier. It is a portable negative air machine that draws in air and traps airborne particles, blowing out clean, fresh air after that. There are a variety of air scrubbers out there you can choose from, but here are our reviews of the seven best air scrubbers.
- List of the TOP 7 Air Scrubbers in 2024
- 1. BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL – Editor’s choice
- 2. Dri-Eaz F284 – Best Air Scrubber for Construction
- 3. ALORAIR CleanShield – Best Portable Air Scrubber
- 4. OdorStop OS500 – Heavy Duty Air Scrubber with Optional Charcoal Filter
- 5. XPOWER X-3380 – Best for Mold and Smoke Remediation
- 6. Novair F2100 – Most Durable Air Scrubber
- 7. ALORAIR PureAiro HEPA Pro 770 – Most Feature-Packed
- Best Air Scrubbers FAQs
- Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Air Scrubber
List of the TOP 7 Air Scrubbers in 2024
1. BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL – Editor’s choice
If you’re looking for an air scrubber that’ll remove harmful contaminants from your house, BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL is your best choice. It is a negative air machine that removes smoke, pet dander, asbestos, pollen, dust, and other particles from your house.
It is a heavy-duty device that comes with HEPA filters capable of removing up to 99.97% of air contaminants in your house. If you continually suffer from allergic reactions, this air scrubber will help purify the air of harmful particles causing the allergy.
If you need an air scrubber for construction, remodeling projects, or restoration works, then the BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL might just be what you’re looking for. It comes with a carbon filter (at request) that removes odors from cleaning products, paint, and salon tools.
It is the best home air scrubber in the market if you want your house filled with a breath of fresh air.
PROS:
- It comes with an optional odor eliminator
- Captures large particles
- It can hold a large amount of dust
- Heavy-duty air purifier machine, and durable
CONS:
- A bit noisy
- Replacement filters for this model are a bit costly (check availability & filter price for HEPA & Carbon filter)
2. Dri-Eaz F284 – Best Air Scrubber for Construction
Dri-Eaz F284 portable air scrubber filters out mold, dust, and other air particles that result from construction work. It is particularly useful in attics, crawlspaces, mold remediation, painting, home repairs, fire damage restoration, and several others. This device is efficient in environments with high dust and mold presence.
Dri-Eaz F284 industrial air scrubber clears up to 99.97% of air particles. It has an airflow control of 200 – 500 CFM for fire and water damage restoration, sewage remediation, and dust control.
The device has a two-stage filter control: the first stage traps large air particles, and the second stage is a HEPA filter that traps smaller particles. It has outlets for other devices to be plugged in. One of its remarkable features is its efficiency in trapping particles quickly, blowing out refreshingly clean air.
PROS:
- Cleans up particles in attics, crawlspaces, and any tight area
- It is particularly useful in protecting people with dust, pollen, or other allergies
- Quickly removes dust and mold during construction, home repair, cleaning, and carpet replacement
- Traps particles in areas with enclosed space up to 1000 cubic feet
- Clears the air of bad odor
CONS:
- Quite expensive
- Some customers might find its operation loud
- Its plastic cover sometimes emits a bad odor
3. ALORAIR CleanShield – Best Portable Air Scrubber
The ALORAIR Cleanshield air scrubber is the best option if you need a commercial air scrubber for water damage restoration and remediation projects. It is a portable filter that cleans out airborne contaminants.
This air scrubber keeps track of the conditions of the work environment. It is portable and small, which makes it easy to move it from one room to the other. The device has a circuit breaker protector to ensure safety. It will ensure a clean, safe surrounding with fresh air.
PROS:
- It has an indicator that notifies the user of the need to replace or clean the filter
- cETL-listed, 1-year parts and labor, and 10-year housing warranty
- High dust-holding capacity, with the ability to capture larger particles
- Filters are replaceable (check availability & price for pre-filter, carbon filter, and HEPA filter).
CONS:
- Some users might complain of noisy operation
- Emits plastic smell
4. OdorStop OS500 – Heavy Duty Air Scrubber with Optional Charcoal Filter
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty air scrubber machine to provide clean, fresh indoor air, then go for OdorStop OS500. It is a portable machine that removes all kinds of contaminants in your environment, including dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, drywall, and other airborne particles.
It is a two-stage filtration system, with an optional charcoal filter. The pre-filter traps larger particles in the air that passes through it, while the HEPA filter traps larger particles. The OdorStop OS500 can perform heavy-duty air scrubbing for several years.
This model is recommended if you need a powerful air scrubber for commercial use.
PROS:
- Very efficient and lightweight
- Its roto-molded case ensures it stays up to several years of heavy-duty operation
- Effectively removes mold, drywall, asbestos, and dust.
CONS:
- Although the name suggests it removes odor, OdorStop OS500 does not eliminate bad odor from home or food.
- It’s not a good option for environments where you intend to rest or relax due to its noise.
5. XPOWER X-3380 – Best for Mold and Smoke Remediation
If you need more than the regular 3-stage filtration system air scrubber, the XPOWER X-3380 might be right for you. It comes with a fourth activated carbon filter for the effective removal of offensive odor from the surrounding. It is a small air scrubber with a HEPA filter that captures bacteria, mold, pollen, and other airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
It has an airflow rating of 600 CFM and filters indoor air at a higher rate than home air purifiers. It is used extensively in water or fire damage remediation to filter out smoke and mold. The machine’s filters capture bad odor and harmful bacteria in residential properties.
With the XPOWER X-3380 in your home, you can breathe a lot easier. It is a powerful, energy-efficient air purifier that’ll work for every penny spent on its purchase.
PROS:
- It has a lightweight, durable ABS plastic housing design
- Energy-efficient and powerful
- It has dual thermal protection
- Can easily be cleaned, extending its lifespan
- It has a high airflow rating of up to 550 CFM, with a single unit cleaning up large areas
CONS:
- Some users might complain of large holes in the second-stage filter
- Air gaps in the carbon filter
6. Novair F2100 – Most Durable Air Scrubber
If you want a heavy-duty air scrubber that is super durable, the Novair F2100 could be the best pick for you. It comes with a powerful 2 HP motor with an airflow of 2000 CFM. But in case you want to run it at a slower speed, you can adjust the airflow to become 1000 CFM.
With a 3-stage filtration system, it can effectively pull out dust and smaller particles from the air. The prefilter, ring panel, and, lastly, the HEPA filter scrubs out the smallest of dust particles from the air. Plus, replacement filters for the F2100 are readily available.
But what sets this air scrubber apart from others is its ultra-durable build. The strong polyethylene construction offers a leak-proof operation, while the 8-point cage mounting system prevents shifting.
You can use and abuse this bad boy, and it will remain dent-free and continue to impress.
PROS:
- Seamless construction
- Powerful 2 HP motor
- High airflow (2000 CFM)
- Easily stackable
- Very lightweight
- Integrated handles offer portability
CONS:
- Expensive
7. ALORAIR PureAiro HEPA Pro 770 – Most Feature-Packed
A compact yet feature-packed unit, the ALORAIR Pro 770 is super effective at removing odors and dust from the air. It can remove particles up to 0.3 microns with its powerful 3-stage filter. This includes a prefilter, a MERV 17 HEPA filter, and a carbon filter.
The Pro 770 has an airflow of 550 CFM – enough to remove odors and contaminants in small industrial settings efficiently. It also features multiple speed settings that you can easily adjust. Moreover, this unit is compact and lightweight and can be easily stacked or moved around. The machine also has a filter change indicator that reminds you to replace the HEPA filter.
With a strong plastic exterior, expect years of performance from this heavy-duty machine. The 10-year housing and 1-year parts warranty will assure you of that.
PROS:
- Efficiently removes particles up to 0.3 microns
- Has a carbon filter for removing odors
- Easily stackable
- Change filter indicator
CONS:
- Noisy
Best Air Scrubbers FAQs
What is an Air Scrubber?
An air scrubber is a portable device with filters that sieve out airborne particles or contaminants in a particular space. The device clears out dust, pollen, mold, and other particles from the air, improving the quality of the indoor air.
It works by drawing air from the given area and passing it through its two or three-stage filter to capture the particles and then blows out the clean air. The size and filter operations of a HEPA air scrubber used in an environment are determined by the size of the area and the types of pollutants in the area.
Air scrubbers find applications in homes, offices, commercial outlets, and industries. Indoor pollution is typically more than two times the pollution outside. With air scrubbers, the indoor air is rid of contamination, giving a refreshingly clear air.
How Does an Air Scrubber Work?
An air scrubber is a negative air machine that captures airborne contaminants and improves the quality of air in a particular environment. Contaminated air can lead to allergies and other health complications. Using an air scrubber will enhance the quality of living, improve job quality, and lower remediation costs.
This portable filtration system captures airborne particles, removing up to 99.97% of particles in the air that passes through it. The HEPA filter traps dust, asbestos, bacteria, pollen, lead, mold, and other airborne particles. It draws in air, and the air passes through the different filters, and the particles are removed.
What is An Air Scrubber Used For?
An air scrubber is a whole house air purifier, filtering the air of particles greater than 0.3 micrometers. It usually has a two-stage filter with an optional carbon or odor filter. The first stage filter captures large particles in the air that travels through it, while the HEPA filter captures smaller particles.
Air scrubbers are particularly useful in removing gases, chemicals, toxins, and other harmful substances from commercial and industrial environments. It is an industrial air cleaner for sewage and water treatment, construction, renovations, and remediation projects.
The device purifies the air, potentiating long-lasting health benefits.
Is the Air Scrubber Safe?
An air scrubber machine is an entirely safe device. The RA 650 Scrubber, for example, is C–ETL-US Certified and complies with testing, ozone, and electrical safety regulations. Some air scrubbers are ozone-free, while some use small levels of ozone, below the United States EPA exposure benchmarks.
Air scrubbers eliminate dust, pollen, bacteria, and other harmful particles from indoor air, providing a clean and safe atmosphere for breathing. This contributes to the overall health of the user. So, the air scrubber is not just reliable; it ensures safety.
Read Also: Most Powerful Dust Remover Machines
Do Air Scrubbers Remove Mold?
Yes, air scrubbers remove mold. Many users report effective use of air scrubbers for mold spore removal. However, its effectiveness in mold remediation depends on several factors, especially the total amount of air exchanges per hour in a particular environment. It’s essential to know the air capacity of the environment or area and the size of air scrubber that can filter that air volume.
Air scrubbers are an excellent option if you want to get rid of mold spores that are potentially harmful to your health. Whether the mold spores are visible or not, the device will effectively eliminate them. In my experience, you can also use an air purifier to remove mold.
How Long Should You Run an Air Scrubber?
How long you run an air scrubber depends on the size of the area. Before purchasing one, it’s recommended you calculate the dimensions of the area. The size of the area will determine the size of the air scrubber you’d buy. To get the average time to run your air scrubber, divide the size (in cubic meters) of the area with the unit size of the air scrubber.
The standard guideline is running an air scrubber for 24 – 48 hours at four air exchanges per hour. This is, however, the minimum standard, as you might have to run the air scrubber for longer to get better results.
Related detailed article: How Long Should an Air Scrubber Run?
What Size of Air Scrubber Do I Need?
Choosing the right size of air scrubber is a vital step in meeting your air scrubbing needs. Picking up the right size will ensure it works maximally in your home or any area you intend using it. The first thing to do is deciding where you want to use the air scrubber. Is it your room or the entire house? When that is done, the next step is measuring the size of area or space, in square foot or cubic meters.
After getting the size of the space, the next point of action is matching it with the rating of the air scrubber. It’s recommended you get an air scrubber that has a rating exactly or slightly higher than the square foot of the area.
What is the Difference Between an Air Scrubber and an Air Purifier?
Air scrubbers are portable filtration systems that clean out airborne particles, ensuring clean, fresh air in the given space. They have a pre-filter that captures large particles, and a primary filter that captures smaller particles and harmful substances in the air.
An air purifier typically fits into HVAC systems and purifies the air just like the air scrubber. It rids the room or given space of airborne particles and harmful chemicals. Both the air purifier and the air scrubber have a HEPA filter that filters out microbes and particles up to 3 micrometers.
While there are no vast differences between both machines, the air purifier is a better choice for homes or environments with asthmatic or other respiratory issues. The fact that the air purifier can be conveniently fitted into your HVAC system is another noteworthy difference.
Related Post: Air Scrubber vs. Air Purifier: There is a Difference and Why Should You Use a Carbon Filter in Your Air Scrubber?
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Air Scrubber
In choosing the ideal air scrubber for your domestic or commercial use, there are several factors you must consider. A pleasant air scrubber will perform at optimum capacity, and be of the best quality. It must be able to fulfill the purpose it was purchased for. Here are essential tips that’ll help you choose the best air scrubber.
Filtration System
The filtration system of an air scrubber is an essential part of the device because it traps particles from the air that travels through the machine, leaving only fresh, clean air. The quality of the filter determines the performance of the air scrubber.
So when choosing a filter, go for the one with a high particle holding capacity and longevity. You should also go for the one that has a very low airflow loss. While most filtration systems use three-stage filters for particle and odor filtration, one with a fourth stage filter for gas filtration is far beneficial. We recommend the XPOWER X-2580 for its four-stage filtration system.
Type of Blowers
A quality air scrubber is equipped with a powerful blower that prevents the buildup of debris on the machine filters. When there’s too much dirt on them, airflow resistance sets in, and the effectiveness of the air scrubber becomes ill-affected.
Blowers are designed for various use cases. There’s airfoil blower designed for air scrubbers because of its ability to overcome the drop in pressure of dirty filters. This type of blower enhances the machine’s airflow and contributes to its durability as dirt starts to build upon the filters. For this feature, we recommend the OdorStop OS500, as it comes with powerful blowers.
Portability
Depending on your line of work or your reason for getting an air scrubber, you might have to go for a very portable one you can easily tuck in the most remote places. One of the significant features of an air scrubber is its portability. Look out for light-weight portable air scrubbers you can quickly move from one place to the other, without looking for multiple hands. Our best option is BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL because it’s easy to move around.
Airflow
The choice of an airflow rating will depend on the size and type of the given area. If you intend to get an air scrubber for your house, 500 CFM airflow will do the job effectively. However, a large commercial or industrial area will require a much higher airflow rate. It’s important to note that the rate of the airflow is directly proportional to the size of the air scrubber. What is crucial, however, is getting a model with airflow equivalent to the size of the area, and the purpose it intends to serve. For this feature, we’d easily go with B-Air RA-650 for its tremendous airflow.
Safety
Air scrubbers need to be running round the clock to keep the air safe for breathing. And since they operate 24/7, they need to be reliable enough for the job.
Hence, look for certifications from trusted organizations, which prove that the machine works effectively non-stop and is safe for use inside homes and industrial settings. These include UL or ETL certificates, and the good news is that all of the air scrubbers on this list have these certifications.
Also, look for a durable exterior that won’t fail on you, even after years of service. The Novair F2100 does a particularly good job at being rough and tough.
Related article: Air Scrubber Maintenance
Price
It’s wise to figure out how powerful of a machine you really need and what features are unnecessary for you.
Do you just want to get rid of dust? Or do you want to remove odors and mold from a dirty old basement? Your answer will decide how much you should be spending on an air scrubber.
If you want an air scrubber for your house, basement, or garage, then you don’t need to spend more than a few hundred dollars on it. A 500 CFM machine with a couple of filters will be enough to keep the air fresh and clean. However, we recommend the XPower X-2580, as it offers four filters and powerful operation while being cheaper than other units.
