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Re: Air Purifier for Medical Office Odor

A Reader writes:

Hi Ed,

I've been pouring over information on air purifiers for the past two hours and was referred to your website by Rabbit Air as a non- partisan source of information.

I'm exhausted and confused and need your help.

I own a medical office building in a small California town.

One of the suites has been occupied by a medical lab for 8 years.

For the past 3 months I have had a number of complaints from staff and patients about a mysterious odor in the waiting room.

It's been described as a chemical or moldy smell.

I've owned this building for over ten years and have never had this problem. After a number of visits to the site I am unable to determine the source of the smell.

The carpet is getting old and should probably be replaced, but in the meantime I would like to purchase an air purifier in the price range of $300 to $400 to cover around 350 - 400 square feet.

From what I've read so far, ozone is not recommended and non-replaceable filters do not work as well.

What would you suggest in my price range?

Thank you,

A Reader.

Ed's Reply

Hey Reader;

You have a very difficult problem: a continuous source odor emission in a sensitive (medical) public space where a wide range of subjective perceptions will determine success or failure.

Were the problem patriculate, it could be easily captured and results measured with a particle counter.

Combing that with a very low end budget makes it hard for me to answer with confidence that we can solve the problem.

Normally I'd recommend an IQAir filled with gas-phase filter media instead of the HEPA ($2,000?).

So here are my ideas for under $400.

First, thanks to the folks at Rabbit Air for mentioning me, but unfortunately I don't think any of their products will be a best fit for your office. I have been waiting for a mail from somebody with an office - a medical waiting room is perfect - with clients to impress, so I could recommend the stylish, wall-mounted, Rabbit MinusA2 series.

Not this time.

You need to lower levels of a mysterious odor molecule. You do not want to spend money on a fancy particle filter, so you want blended activated carbon, plenty of it.

Also, due to the medical lab as a possible source, I wouldn't use oxidizers - plasma-ion streamer (Sharp Plasmacluster), photocatalytic, or ozone machine - due to possible partial oxidation byproducts.

So the product will be a specialty brand, designed to carry several pounds of carbon blend, which can be replaced or user-refilled without tools, as needed (probably very often) without having to buy a big stack of filters.

That makes my first choice the E.L. Foust air purifiers.

They can be set up with a full load of carbon and maybe even designed to catch odors primarily, as HEPA filters can be varied.

Foust offers a wide range of carbon blends at prices far lower than filter kits sold elsewhere.

And, like Rabbit Air, E.L. Foust provides top customer service.

If you call (800.353.6878) and describe your issue, they will recommend a broad spectrum odor adsorbent media from their list of carbon choices, and probably the Foust 160R2 machine (under $400).

Foust 160R2 air purifier.

I don't guarantee modern style or ultra quiet operation, but this is the best fit I can offer.

The idea is to lower (we cannot eliminate) molecular concentrations of the offending chemical to levels below most people's olfactory threshold. I'd run the machine on high overnight, and on a quieter speed during the day.

The human sense of smell varies widely among individuals. Some. like me, are exquisitely sensitive. I expect the smell will always be noticed by these few until the source is eliminated.

There are other possible low cost ideas. Many folks with indoor pets have found that just placing carbon out "in the breeze" near the odor source will reduce smells. This can be done using the same inexpensive Foust carbon, installed in small bags.

Of course, source control is the key.

Make sure there is no water or condensation source, even a cooler or drinking fountain, which could supply mold the moisture it craves.

I'd also think about what chemicals may still be applied in the rooms - is there a pest control or janitorial service contractor visiting after-hours? Housekeeping in the lab may have involved anti-septics sprayed on everything.

Furniture, especially leather or fabric couches, are possible candidates.

In some cases, "hospital smell" has been traced to hand washing chemicals used fastidiously by the medical profession - lab techs might do this too.

Medical labs use organic solvents and other hazardous chemicals. If you can, ventilate the former lab rooms by putting a box fan in open windows for 24 hours.

Just be glad your property is not leased out as a pet store, grooming shop, art studio, beauty parlor, or nail salon..... all of which have made employees very sick and lost business as a result of harsh odors.

Best wishes,

Ed

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