Vaping has become very popular over the last few years. Most users smoke a JUUL, vape pen, or some other type of e-cigarette. While vaping is better for your health than smoking traditional cigarettes, there are still negative health effects that should be noted. Additionally, there is not a lot of research around the true long-term effects of vaping. That’s why it is important to make sure that the second hand smoke from vaping is contained and the smell is fully eliminated.
Luckily, the best air purifier for vaping can eliminate electronic cigarette smoke and any smell produced from a JUUL or vape pen. These vape smoke air filters will help keep second-hand smoke at bay, so take a look at our list of highest-rated air purifiers on the market.
Best Performance: IQAir Medical-Grade
The IQAir Medical-Grade Air Purifier is the powerhouse air purifier on our list and great at removing smells from the air. It features easy to use functions, strong scrubbing power, 320 degree clean air exhaust, and gets rave reviews across the board.
This air purifier uses a MultiGas filtration and an advanced filter design to provide exceptional protection against gases, odors, and chemicals. Able to filter even ultra fine particles, this air purifier boasts the best filtration out of all the others our list. It will quickly clear the air of tobacco smoke and e-vape smells.
Not only does this clean the air of dust, dander and allgergens, but also bacteria and viruses.
The IQAir Medical-Grade Air Purifier is rated to be used in rooms up to 1125 sq. ft., and runs at only 27 watts at its lowest speed, making it incredibly energy efficient considering the thorough cleaning job that it does.
Using a four disposable gas-phase filter cartridges, the IQAir air purifier has 12 pounds of activated carbon and alumina pellets which remove even formaldehyde from the air. The air flow is evenly dispersed in 320 degrees which makes for an even distribution of clean air.
Pros:
- Quiet at low settings
- Filters air particles as small as .003 microns
- Removes many different particles from the air
Cons:
- High price tag
- Some users report a strong smell from the carbon filters at the beginning of operation
Trial Results
Best Price: SilverOnyx Air Purifier
The SilverOnyx Air Purifier is equipped with a 5-stage filtration system that helps to catch super fine particles and neutralize odors. Great for removing smoke and smells from the air, this air purifier has a low profile and can be used in many different spots.
The SilverOnyx HEPA H13 filter removes 99.97% of allergens in the air as small as .3 microns. These impurities include dust, pet hair, odors, allergens, and mold. The activated carbon filter helps to reduce the smell from wood burning, cigarette smoke, and vaping.
This model features an Auto-mode with a 2.5 particulate sensor, which runs the fan at the appropriate speed to cleanse the air in your home. This helps maximize the filter life and reduce electrical costs. It also means you can set-it and forget-it.
The control panel on the top of the machine is easy to read and the display is situated in a clock format, which makes for easy button pressing. It has intuitive functions, a timer mode, and the ability to turn on and off the different functions as you see fit.
Pros:
- HEPA H13 Filter
- Activated Carbon Filter
- UV sanitation
- PM2.5 sensor
- Easy to work display
- 5 speed fans
- UVC Light
- Used for Large Rooms
Cons:
- The ionizer produces ozone which is considered unsafe for humans or animals
- UV light is not useful in air purifiers
Trial Results
Also Great: Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier
The 5500-2 air purifier from Winix is great for large rooms or studio apartments. It has been engineered with a four-stage filtration system to remove the greatest amount of particulates from the air, including smoke and smells from vaping.
It has a washable fine mesh pre-filter which stops the largest particles from entering the air purifier. The smoke then goes through the washable carbon filter, which reduces VOCs and odors commonly associated with cooking, pets, tobacco and vaping.
This air purifier has a feature none of the others on our list do: It has a real time air quality indicator with an LED light that changes color based on the air quality. From Blue (good) to orange (fair) to red (poor) you will be able to know, minute by minute, the quality of the air you are breathing in.
Using dual sensors and an auto mode, the Winix 5500-2 is able to adjust the fan speeds in real time to give you the cleanest air while maximizing its energy-efficiency.
When the room is darkened at night, the unit will automatically activate Sleep Mode. This setting ensures quiet, continuous, and energy-efficient air purifying. Once the lights come on, the unit will switch back to Auto Mode.
Best used in rooms up to 360 sq. ft., the Winix 5500-2 offers 5 clean air changes per hour. The filter replacement indicator will let you know when its time to clean and/or install new filters. The carbon filter should be cleaned every 3 months and replaced once per year.
The remote control is intuitive and easy to use, with only Turbo, Auto, and fan speed buttons. Most of the functions are automatic, like Sleep Mode, reducing your need to be interacting with your machine.
The 5500-2 is an upgrade from the 5300-2, in that it has a remote control and washable carbon filter.
Pros:
- Four fan speeds allow you to choose your comfort level
- Smart sensor continuously monitors ambient air quality
- AHAM Certified
- Automatic Sleep Mode
- Indicator light for filter cleaning/replacement
Cons:
- More expensive than other Air Purifiers on our list
- No color options
- No backlight on remote makes it hard to see at night
- No dedicated switch for night mode
Trial Results
Living in a home with wood floors we usually have a problem with dust and pet hair and after 3 days, there was a significant reduction in the amount of dust on our surfaces.
What is Vaping?
It should first be noted that the term vaping, juuling, and smoking e-cigarettes can all be considered the same thing. These devices are known as vaporizers because they heat liquid cartridges that contain flavored nicotine.
Vaping is the action of inhaling the heated vapor that is released from the heated liquid cartage. These devices are battery powered and the vape cartridges contain nicotine and other dangerous chemicals known to cause cancer.
Does an Air Purifier Eliminate Vape Pen Smoke and Odor?
Yes. Air purifiers use advanced technology to eliminate vape smoke. The vape smoke filter process of an air purifier absorbs the particles released from a vape pen. For example, an air purifier with a pre-filter will first capture the initial residue produced from a JUUL. Next, the smoke will flow into the air purifier and be absorbed by the filter. Finally, you can also use an ionizer to eliminate the smoke from the air. An air purifier ionizer will attach a negative ion to the smoke particle. This negatively charged ion essentially turns the smoke particle into a magnet. The smoke particle then gets stuck on the positively charged sheet in the purifier or attaches to heavier dust particles, which subsequently fall to the ground.
What Type of Air Purifier Filter is best for Eliminating E-cigarette Odor?
The best type of filter for eliminating E-cig smoke is an activated carbon purifier. An activated carbon air purifier has massive amounts of surface area. This amount of surface area absorbs anything that it comes into contact with. Not only does this type of air purifier filter capture the smoke particles when they flow into the purifier, but it also eliminates VOCs that produce odor.
Conclusion
Vaping is a dangerous habit, but the negative effects of vaping can be reduced when using an air purifier. An air purifier can eliminate the toxins and unhealthy particles released from a vape pen. Not only does it reduce the effects of second-hand smoke, but it also removes any vaping odor. If you are looking for a cheaper air purifier learn about the best air purifier for smoke under $100.
Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.