> By: The Cooling Company
Key Takeaways
- Air scrubbers lower particles, VOCs, and pathogens to cut health and cleaning costs.
- Proper sizing, controls, and commissioning maximize ROI and limit added HVAC energy.
- Require third-party test reports and acceptance testing to avoid ozone risks.
Air scrubbers cut particles, odors, and some airborne microbes to improve indoor air quality and lower operating costs. When sized, placed, and run with controls, they can reduce sick days, lower cleaning and HVAC runtime, and extend equipment life for clear financial benefits. (DOE Better Buildings HVAC)
Why choose an air scrubber for commercial spaces?
Air scrubbers add targeted cleaning where HVAC systems fall short. Many systems focus on temperature and humidity, not particle or VOC removal. Adding scrubbers can meet higher indoor air quality goals without replacing the whole HVAC system.
Owners often get occupant complaints about odors or stale air during events. Portable units let teams treat hotspots quickly while planning in-duct upgrades. Phasing purchases spreads capital costs and keeps operations running with less disruption.
Managers who need measured results can pair scrubbers with sensors and acceptance tests. That provides data for tenants and insurers. Baseline testing also helps show real reductions in particles and VOCs after deployment.
What is an air scrubber?
An air scrubber is a device that pulls air through stages to remove contaminants. Typical stages include pre-filters, HEPA, activated carbon, UV-C, or electrostatic elements. Units come as portable boxes or in-duct modules tied to HVAC.
Function splits into filtration and treatment. Mechanical filters trap particles. Adsorbents like carbon capture gases and odors. UV-C and similar stages reduce live microbes, but they do not remove particles.
What types of units exist?
Portable scrubbers are floor or cart units you can move where needed. They are quick to deploy and cost less up front. In-duct and rooftop modules sit inside the central air path and treat the whole supply stream. (DOE Better Buildings HVAC)
Dedicated standalone systems have their own blowers and filters for spot zones. Central in-duct solutions offer a cleaner look and simpler central maintenance. Choose based on budget, access, and coverage goals.
How do air scrubbers work and what tech do they use?
Different technologies target different contaminants, so match tech to your problems. HEPA removes most particles. Carbon targets VOCs and odors. UV-C can lower viable microbes. Some units combine these in stages for broad impact.
Many vendors add sensors and control logic to cut runtime and energy. Demand-based controls run scrubbers only when needed. That reduces wear and cost while still keeping air clean during high use.
How do HEPA filters reduce particles?
HEPA filters remove particles with interception, impaction, and diffusion mechanisms. Together, these capture large, medium, and tiny particles down to 0.3 microns with high efficiency. That helps cut dust, allergens, and many aerosolized droplets.
Remember that HEPA adds airflow resistance. Systems must account for the added static pressure. Overlooking pressure can reduce airflow and cut both filtration and comfort performance.
Can UV-C reduce pathogens in air?
UV-C light can inactivate many viruses and bacteria when exposure and dose are right. In-duct UV-C units disinfect the airstream without exposing occupants. Upper-room UV systems disinfect circulated air in occupied spaces when installed correctly.
UV-C should supplement, not replace, filtration and ventilation. Lamps lose intensity with hours of use. Regular lamp replacement and safety checks keep UV-C systems working as intended.
Do activated carbon stages cut odors and VOCs?
Activated carbon adsorbs many gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds. The bed size, carbon type, and contact time determine how much is removed. Kitchens and labs often need larger carbon beds or specialty adsorbents.
Carbon beds saturate and require scheduled replacement. Plan replacement intervals based on measured VOC trends rather than fixed time alone. Combine source control, ventilation, and carbon for best results.
How to size and specify air scrubbers for ROI?
Good ROI starts with clear goals for air quality, occupancy, and energy. Pick target ACH, particle reduction, and acceptable energy impacts. Use CADR and room volumes to estimate portable unit counts and positions. (DOE Better Buildings HVAC)
Include life-cycle cost analysis in specifications. Compare capital, installation, energy, maintenance, and benefits like fewer sick days. A clear payback scenario helps justify the investment to owners and CFOs.
What is CADR and why does it matter?
CADR means Clean Air Delivery Rate and measures how much filtered air a unit delivers. Match CADR to room volume to estimate how fast the unit cleans a space. Higher CADR gives faster particle removal for the same room.
Keep in mind CADR is a lab metric under standard conditions. Real rooms with obstructions and sources will see lower effective performance. Use CADR as a starting point and verify with field tests.
How to estimate required ACH?
ACH is air changes per hour and shows how often room air is fully exchanged or cleaned. Calculate it by converting CADR to cfm and dividing by room volume. Multiply by 60 to change minutes to hours.
Aim for 4–6 ACH for typical office spaces and 6–12 ACH for higher-risk zones. Use conservative targets and confirm with particle decay tests for final validation.
Which sensors verify real-world performance?
Particle counters measure PM1 and PM2.5 and show how scrubbers reduce airborne particles. CO2 sensors track ventilation effectiveness and occupancy trends. VOC sensors indicate gas and odor levels.
Use a combination of sensors and log data to prove performance over time. Calibrate instruments and run before-and-after tests to document improvements objectively.
How do costs and lifecycle expenses break down?
Cost planning must include equipment, installation, and ongoing service. Portable units have lower initial cost. In-duct systems can cost more but treat larger volumes. Account for filters, carbon, lamps, and labor over time.
Budget for commissioning and acceptance testing. Those steps confirm ACH and particle reduction targets and protect ROI. Training facility staff lowers long-term costs by avoiding operator errors. Also, consider staff development and hvac careers resources to retain skilled operators.
What are typical purchase and installation costs?
Portable commercial scrubbers range from about $800 to $6,000 per unit. In-duct or rooftop modules can run from $3,000 to $25,000, depending on size and options. Add controls and sensors to improve savings but increase up-front cost. (DOE Better Buildings HVAC)
Installation for in-duct systems varies with duct access and electrical work. Expect retrofit installs to need balancing and possible structural supports. Always include a site survey to firm up estimates.
How to calculate maintenance and filter expenses?
Track filter replacement by pressure drop and hours, not by calendar alone. A $200 HEPA filter replaced yearly costs $200 annually per unit. Carbon and UV lamp costs add to yearly expenses and depend on use hours.
Include labor for changes, calibration, and tests. Typical annual maintenance for commercial units often runs 5–15% of the purchase price, but local conditions can shift that range.
What operational and energy impacts should you expect?
Operational choices determine whether scrubbers save money or add expense. Running units 24/7 raises energy and maintenance costs. Demand-based controls cut runtime and conserve energy without losing IAQ benefits.
Monitoring and simple dashboards help teams tune operation. That keeps filters from starving systems and stops overuse during low-risk hours. Good controls protect ROI and occupant comfort.
Can scrubbers reduce energy use?
Scrubbers can reduce energy use indirectly by letting operators lower outside air in extreme weather when filtration drops risk. Targeted cleaning also reduces peak HVAC loads in some cases. Net savings depend on controls and system design.
Added filters and blowers can increase energy directly. Model energy impacts before buying. Use conservative estimates for payback and include energy sensitivity in your analysis.
How do controls and commissioning affect savings?
Smart controls run scrubbers by occupancy, CO2, or particle thresholds to save runtime. Commissioning ensures systems meet ACH and particle reduction targets. Proper commissioning catches mismatches that reduce savings.
Tie final payments to acceptance tests. That gives vendors incentive to hit targets and helps owners document savings for budgets and tenants.
Ready to evaluate and install for your building?
Start with a short pilot in a high-use zone like a conference room or lobby to gather real data. A small trial proves CADR and ACH in your conditions and shows the real cost and benefit. Use those results to scale a rollout. (DOE Better Buildings HVAC)
For Las Vegas area projects, contact The Cooling Company for a site survey, modeling, and turnkey proposals. Call The Cooling Company at 17029308411 to schedule a visit. Service areas include Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas.
If you are outside our service area, ask contractors for NATE-certified hvac technician credentials and require independent CADR and emissions reports plus on-site particle decay testing. That protects your investment and avoids ozone risks.
Site assessment checklist
Record room volumes, occupancy schedules, and peak counts. Note HVAC ventilation ACH and current filter types. Measure baseline particle, CO2, and VOC levels before any purchase.
Identify high-risk zones like cafeterias, lobbies, and conference rooms. Check duct access, electrical capacity, and installation constraints. Gather maintenance labor rates and replacement costs for filters and lamps.
What procurement language should I use?
Specify non-ozone producing devices and ask for UL 2998 or zero-ozone certification where applicable. Require independent lab reports that show CADR, particle removal, and emissions under realistic conditions.
Include acceptance testing clauses that require particle decay tests, ACH verification, and energy measurements. Tie payments to successful commissioning to ensure delivered performance.
How to verify performance after installation?
Run particle decay or tracer gas tests to measure effective ACH. Compare results to contract targets and document them. Use logged sensor data for long-term trend verification and maintenance planning.
Repeat tests after major maintenance or equipment changes. Keep performance records for audits and tenant communication. Regular checks keep systems reliable and savings predictable.
Quick checklist for owners and facilities teams
Plan targets for ACH, particle reduction, and energy limits. Choose tech based on known problems, such as HEPA for particulates and carbon for smells. Require independent test reports and include acceptance testing.
Stage deployment starting with high-risk zones and scale based on pilot results. Use demand-based controls and sensors to minimize runtime and energy. Budget for replacement media and periodic commissioning.
Final call to action for Las Vegas area readers
To get a site survey or a tailored ROI analysis, call The Cooling Company at 17029308411. Our NATE-certified technicians offer commissioning, sensor setup, and ongoing service. We serve Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas with turn-key HVAC and IAQ solutions.
If you are outside our service area, ask any contractor for NATE-certified technicians and require independent CADR and emissions reports plus on-site particle decay testing. These steps help you choose a reliable vendor and protect long-term savings.
About The Cooling Company
The Cooling Company has been serving the Las Vegas valley with professional HVAC services for over a decade. Our team of licensed, NATE-certified technicians specializes in air conditioning repair, heating system maintenance, and complete HVAC installations. We're committed to providing honest, reliable service with upfront pricing and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all work performed.
- Phone: (702) 930-8411
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Service Areas
We proudly serve homeowners and businesses throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area, including Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas. Our service technicians are available for same-day appointments in most areas, with emergency service available 24/7 for urgent HVAC issues.