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Do Air Purifiers Help with Smell?

By Travis Baugh | Expert Review By Chrystal Jolliffe - Product Manager, Indoor Air Quality 
 
Do air purifiers help with smell? Yes, air purifiers can help reduce odors, but the type of filtration matters. Air purifiers with activated carbon are designed to adsorb gases and odor-causing compounds, while particle filters such as HEPA filters capture airborne particles. Activated carbon filters can help remove gases from indoor air, provided there is a sufficient amount of carbon in the filter.

How Do Air Purifiers Remove Odors?

To understand how to reduce bad smells, it is important to distinguish between filtering particles and filtering gases. HEPA filters are designed to capture particles, not gaseous pollutants. A HEPA filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles. Particles larger or smaller than 0.3 microns can also be captured at higher efficiencies.
 
Odors, however, are generally associated with gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which require a different type of filtration. Activated carbon is commonly used for gas-phase filtration because gas molecules can adsorb onto the carbon's porous surface. ASHRAE identifies carbon and other sorbent materials as common technologies for removing gases, VOCs and odors from air.
  • The Science of Adsorption: Unlike absorption (where a substance is taken into another material), adsorption occurs when gas molecules adhere to the surface of the carbon.
  • Surface Area Power: Activated carbon contains a network of microscopic pores that provides a large surface area for adsorbing gases and odor-causing compounds. The amount and type of carbon used can affect how effectively a filter removes gases.
Learn more about how do air purifiers work.

Common Household Smells Air Purifiers Can Eliminate

Investing in indoor air quality means addressing the sources of indoor pollutants. An air purifier with activated carbon can help reduce some common household odors, but it does not replace source control or ventilation.
  • Cooking Odors: Don't let the smell of fish or fried food linger. Activated carbon can help adsorb some of the gases and odor-causing compounds associated with cooking.
  • Pet Odors: From litter boxes to "wet dog" smell, activated carbon can help reduce some gaseous odor compounds, while particle filtration can capture airborne pet dander and other particles.
  • Tobacco and Wildfire Smoke: Smoke contains both particles and gases. Particle filtration can capture airborne smoke particles, while activated carbon can help address some gaseous pollutants and odors.
  • Mold and Mildew:  Damp areas in basements or bathrooms can produce musty odors. An air purifier may help reduce some airborne particles and odors, but it does not solve the moisture problem or remove mold growth. Addressing the source of moisture is essential. Learn more about an air purifier for mold.

Important Features When Buying an Air Purifier for Smell

1. The Right Filtration System (Activated Carbon)

If odor and gas removal are priorities, look for an air purifier with activated carbon or another gas-phase filtration technology. Activated carbon can be effective for filtering gases when a sufficient amount of carbon is used.
  • Note: A Pre-Filter is also essential to capture large particles (hair, dust bunnies) before they clog the carbon filter, extending the life of your system.

2. Air Changes Per Hour (ACH)

Efficiency matters. The ACH rating tells you how many times the device can theoretically filter an amount of air equivalent to the room's total volume per hour. For particle removal, consider the air cleaner's CADR and the size of the space rather than relying on a generic ACH target. Higher fan speeds and longer operating times generally increase the amount of air filtered.

For odor removal specifically, there is no widely used standardized performance rating comparable to particle CADR. The amount of activated carbon, airflow through the media and the characteristics of the gases being removed all affect performance.

3. Appropriate Coverage

Size your unit correctly. If an air purifier is rated for 200 square feet, placing it in an open-concept living room won't provide the same performance as using it in a space within its recommended coverage. The EPA recommends selecting an air cleaner appropriate for the size of the space and considering its CADR for particle removal. 3
 

The Bryant Solution: Carbon Air Purifier with UV

For homeowners seeking whole-home air treatment that addresses both gases and microorganisms, the Carbon Air Purifier with UV offers a solution that integrates directly with your HVAC system.
 
  • Dual Technology: It combines a carbon core to help reduce common household gases and odors with UV technology that helps reduce microorganism growth on the cooling coil and in the air.
  • System Protection: It helps reduce mold and bacteria growth on your HVAC's evaporator coil, improving system efficiency.
  • Whole-Home Coverage: Installed in the HVAC system, the unit provides continuous treatment while the HVAC system is running rather than occupying space in individual rooms.
  • Zero Ozone Emissions: Bryant states that the Carbon Air Purifier with UV meets UL 2998 for zero ozone emissions, with measured ozone emissions during use not exceeding 0.005 ppm in UL 867 testing.

Maintenance and Warranty

Reliable performance requires routine maintenance. Bryant recommends replacing the carbon core annually and the UV bulb every two years. The system includes a 10-year parts limited warranty when the product is timely registered, subject to the applicable warranty terms.

Tips for Maintaining Fresh Indoor Air

While advanced technology is your best defense, combining it with good habits maximizes results:
  • Ventilation: Periodically open windows to flush out stale air.
  • Source Control: Keep garbage bins sealed and avoid indoor smoking.
  • Regular Cleaning: Vacuuming removes the dust and dander that can hold onto odors.
  • Filter Changes: Regularly change your standard HVAC air filters to maintain airflow and efficiency.
a homeowner researches do air purifiers help with smell on tablet in chair

Contact Your Bryant Dealer For An Air Purifier To Help With Smell

Do air purifiers help with smell? Yes, an air purifier with activated carbon can help reduce many household odors by adsorbing gases and odor-causing compounds. However, air purification works best as part of a broader approach that includes source control and ventilation. Schedule an appointment with you local Bryant dealer to get the Carbon Air Purifier with UV installed in your home. It's the best air purifier Bryant offers to help with smell.
 
1 The efficacy of the Carbon Air Purifier with UV (UVCAPXXC2015) to remove Aspergillus niger (97%), Penicillium citrinum (>99.99%), Escherichia coli (>99%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (>99.9999%), Coronavirus 229E (95%) and MS-2 bacteriophage (>99.99%) from treated surfaces after 24 hours was demonstrated in an ASTM E3135-18 test conducted by a third-party laboratory under ambient temperature and humidity conditions.
2The efficacy of the Carbon Air Purifier with UV (UVCAPXXC2015) to remove a surrogate airborne pathogen, MS-2 bacteriophage, was demonstrated with a decay rate (k) of 0.162860 and Clean Air Deliver Rate (CADR) of 130.6 cfm in 60 minutes in a chamber test conducted by a third-party laboratory using a 1007 ft3 chamber with an airflow of 1,220 cfm, test temperature of 74-77°F and relative humidity of 45.1-46.6%.
3 https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home
 

Air Purifier Smell FAQs

Yes, a whole-home air purifier with an activated carbon filter can help reduce odors from cooking, pets, smoke, and other sources by trapping odor-causing particles and gases.
An air purifier can begin reducing odors within a few hours, but complete odor removal depends on the air volume and odor source.
Yes, air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters can be effective at removing pet dander and odors, helping keep your home smelling fresh and reducing allergens.
No, standard HEPA filters are designed to capture solid particles like dust and pollen. To remove smells, gases, and VOCs, you need an air purifier that includes an activated carbon filter.

About The Author: Travis Baugh is a Digital Brand Marketing Manager for Bryant, where he creates clear, helpful content to guide homeowners through heating, cooling, and indoor air quality decisions. His goal is to empower readers with the knowledge they need to choose the right comfort solutions for their home—confidently and comfortably.

About The Expert Reviewer: Chrystal Jolliffe is a Product Manager specializing in Residential Indoor Air Quality at Bryant. Her work centers on advancing solutions that support cleaner indoor air and a more comfortable home environment. She helps homeowners understand the role indoor air quality products can play in their homes, empowering them to evaluate their options and make informed decisions about their indoor environment.
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