Paint, glue, new furniture, cleaning products, and even some types of flooring can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air in your home. These substances, also known as VOCs, are often invisible, though they can sometimes be smelled. Can an air purifier help with this?
What exactly are VOCs
VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, gaseous substances that evaporate easily at room temperature. They are released from sources including paint, varnish, glue, new furniture, certain cleaning products, and building materials. The fresh smell of paint after painting a room is a well-known example, but VOCs can also be released gradually and almost imperceptibly from new items in the home.
How an air purifier handles this
Because VOCs are gaseous, a standard HEPA filter has little effect on them, as this filter is designed for solid particles such as dust and pollen. For VOCs, a layer of activated carbon is required. Activated carbon binds gas molecules to the large, porous surface of the carbon granules, thereby reducing the concentration of harmful substances in the air. The more activated carbon a filter contains and the more frequently the air is cycled through the device, the greater the effect.
Practical situations where this is relevant
- After painting or renovating a room.
- With newly purchased furniture, mattresses, or flooring that still smells "new."
- In rooms where cleaning products are used regularly.
- In well-insulated, energy-efficient homes where there is less natural ventilation.
What you can realistically expect
An air purifier with a carbon filter can contribute to a noticeable decrease in odors and the concentration of VOCs in a room, but the most important first step remains proper ventilation, especially after jobs like painting. Open windows where possible and use the air purifier as a supplement, not as a replacement for fresh air from outside. For persistent sources, such as a newly laid floor, it may take some time before the emission of substances naturally decreases.
Our advice
For reducing harmful substances and VOCs in the home, we recommend an air purifier with multiple filter stages, which incorporates a carbon layer alongside particle filtration. The Dynter AirPure Plus PA244 works with 4-stage filtration and a HEPA13 filter, addressing both fine particles and odor molecules and gaseous substances. With a CADR of 260 m3/h and suitability for up to 55 m2, the device is well-suited for quickly freshening the air in a room after a renovation or painting job, for example.
Finished a project or bought new furniture? Check out the AirPure Plus PA244 and make your air feel clear again.