(Last Updated On: March 24, 2023)

5 Best Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Air Purifiers for Your Garage

By Marriott Battle

12 minute read

Chances are, you have never heard of a volatile organic compound (VOC). Volatile organic compounds are all around us at every moment. However, we might not be aware of them until it is too late. Unlike most toxic compounds, volatile organic compounds do not emit an odor that will alert you when something is wrong or bad for you. Because of how sneaky and ubiquitous these compounds are, you need to be aware of what to look out for to keep your home and family safe, and you need to have just the right equipment to guard your family. 

What is a VOC?

Volatile organic compounds are chemicals in the air. These chemicals can come from anywhere, but they are usually found in homes, especially homes where work is being done. 

The concentration that volatile organic compounds emit is dangerous because it is often higher, usually by ten times, when one is indoors in a concentrated area than outdoors.

Top Pick

IQAir HealthPro Plus
Air Purifier Buy Now

Products in this article are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission.  How We Rate

Best
IQAir
HealthPro Plus
Air Purifier

$900 Buy Now
2nd Best
Austin Air
Healthmate Plus
Air Purifier

$850 Buy Now
Better
AllerAir
5000 Vocarb
Air Purifier

$800 Buy Now
Good
Airpura V600
Specific Chemicals
Air Purifier

$800 Buy Now
2nd Good
Alen BreatheSmart
75i with Carbon
Air Purifier

$750 Buy Now
Best
IQ Air HealthPro Plus Air Purifier $899 Buy Now

Pros

Super absorbent carbon filter
HyperHEPA filter captures 99.5 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Covers up to 1,125 square feet

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Covers up to 1,125 square feet
  • Dimensions: 32.25 x 17.83 x 15.38 inches
  • Weight: 50 pounds
  • Triple-Seal Technology
  • HyperHEPA filter
The IQAir HealthPro cleans large rooms up to 1,125 square feet. This air purifier not only filters harmful gases and chemicals in the home, but its HyperHEPA filter eliminates 99.5 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. The IQAir HealthPro Plus air purifier also comes with a remote control, color-coded filter light indicator, and a 10-year limited warranty.
2nd Best
Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier $855 Buy Now

Pros

Three fan speed settings
True Medical-Grade HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns
Specializes in the reduction of harmful airborne particles, chemicals, gases, and more

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Coverage Area: Up to 1500 Sq Ft
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 23
  • Weight: 45 lbs
The Austin Air Healthmate Plus contains a true medical-grade HEPA filter that removes irritants that aggravate allergies and asthma symptoms. It also uses an activated carbon filter to remove smoke, gases, chemicals, and odors from the air. It comes with three fan settings and a four-stage filtration process. The Austin Air Healthmate Plus comes with a five-year warranty for parts and labor.
Better
AllerAir Air Purifier 6000 DXS Black $1100 Buy Now

Pros

Super absorbent carbon filter
Excellent for odor and smoke removal
It covers up to 1,800 square feet

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 28 inches
  • Weight: 52 pounds
  • 28-pound carbon filter
  • Tar-trapping pre-filter
  • 1,800 square feet room coverage
AllerAir’s 6000 DXS Black air purifier is the most powerful unit in the company’s smoking se-ries. Whether it's cigarettes or cigars, the unit is highly effective at removing harmful airborne pollutants. The 6000 DXS Black features 36 pounds of carbon and a 3.5” filter depth, making it ideal for smoky environments like kitchens. The unit also boasts a tar-trapping filter that eliminates airborne tar particles and also protects the primary filter.
Good
Airpura V600 Specific Chemicals Filtration Air Purifier $800 Buy Now

Pros

3 Step Filtration: Pre-Filters, Carbon filters, HEPA filters
Felt gaskets and steel housing produces no off-gassing
Micro-Suppress filters eliminate bacteria and viruses

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Coverage Area: Up to 2000 Sq Ft
  • Dimensions: 23 x 15 x 15
  • Weight: 50 lbs
The Airpura V600 Specific Chemicals Filtration Air Purifier cleans the air in a room twice an hour. The machine runs with a super-absorbent carbon filter for fumes, smoke, odors, and a True HEPA filter that eliminates the tiniest allergens, viruses, and bacteria. All filters need to be replaced once a year. The Airpura V600 Specific Chemicals Filtration Air Purifier comes with a five-year warranty for parts and a 10-year warranty for labor.
2nd Good
Alen BreatheSmart 75i Air Purifier $749 Buy Now

Pros

B7 Pure filter
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.1 micron
Multiple color options

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 13 x 20 x 26 inches
  • Weight: 31 pounds
  • Cleans air every 30 minutes
  • True HEPA filter
  • 1,300 square feet room coverage
With five fan speeds, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i cleans large rooms up to 1,300 square feet every 30 minutes. Even better, you and your loved ones will breathe easier and cleaner air as the Alen BreatheSmart 75i comes with both a HEPA Pure filter and True HEPA filter. The HEPA Pure filter contains a compound that eliminates airborne bacteria, germs, fungi, and viruses, while the True HEPA layer captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Air Purifier in Garage

Where Can I Find VOCs?

Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that end up emitting a gas. Volatile organic compounds are in multiple building materials such as paint, varnishes, caulks, and adhesives. One can also find them on the floors, whether you have carpet or vinyl flooring. Some composite wood products also contain volatile organic compounds, as well as some upholstery or foam. VOCs are almost everywhere, whether you are in your house or at work. 

Additionally, you can also find volatile organic compounds in some air fresheners or other cleaning products. Some cosmetics contain these chemicals as well as fuel oil and gasoline. Moreover, if you participate in activities like smoking, you might come into contact with these chemicals. Other low-risk but high exposure activities include cooking or burning wood. Some dry cleaning services, photocopiers, and your garage and shed also contain an increased risk of volatile organic compounds exposure.

What is the Danger of VOC Emissions?

Prolonged exposure to VOC Emissions will cause long-term health issues, usually dealing with the lungs and breathing. Even if one person is not breathing in a high concentration of volatile organic compounds, they might still have an increased health risk. If the person inhaling VOC emissions has asthma or is sensitive to chemicals, the health risk might increase. 

Common symptoms of short-term exposure to volatile organic compounds include sensitive eyes, runny noses, scratchy throats, headaches, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, worsening asthma symptoms. If someone is exposed to volatile organic compounds for a long time, they might suffer from cancer, liver and kidney damage, and central nervous system damage. 

What Now?

Now that you know what volatile organic compounds are and the danger they pose to you and your family’s health, you must know how to clean the air and eliminate these toxic emissions. In these trying times, it is essential to have clean indoor air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollutants are often two to five times higher than outside levels. 

How to Protect Yourself From VOCs

Even though volatile organic compounds are almost everywhere, there are a few easy steps that you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from the health risks that can occur from contact with VOCs. One method of prevention is to search for product descriptions on the objects that are known to have VOCs. Some product labels will add that that particular supply has “low VOCs.” You may also want to avoid having supplies known to be dangerous and toxic to the air in your house. 

The best way to ensure that volatile organic compounds do not harm anyone around you is to have clean air. Investing in a VOC air purifier is the best-bet solution for this. These air purifiers specifically eliminate harmful airborne pollutants, including VOCs, chemicals, gases, and other allergens.  

With so many VOC air purifiers to choose from, you cannot help but have clean and pure air after using any of these products. Volatile organic compounds are harmful, but you do not have to worry about them if you have gone through the proper steps to rid your home of those toxins.