It’s fun to do it yourself, especially when you are making handy tools that can be used in your home. If you fancy moving on from shelves and furniture, making your own air purifier isn’t much different.
You may need a few more tools, but the process is so simple that anyone can do it. What’s more, it can positively impact your health to have an air purifier running in your home.
What is an Air Purifier?
This is a handy little device that works by cleaning pollutants in the air so that you can breathe easier. This improvement in air quality is especially good for those with asthma or allergies because of the way it removes contaminants.
This includes things like dust, pet dander, and cigarette smoke. They are ideal for a range of situations, and even those without allergies and respiratory issues can massively benefit from cleaner air in their homes.
Why Make One Yourself?
The simple truth is that an air purifier can be pretty expensive, and not all of us have the extra cash to spend on one. Making your own model at home is a whole lot cheaper, and it works just as well as many of the air purifiers you find at the store. It’s at least worth trying before you think about buying.
What You Will Need
- PVC tubing (one foot, 3-inch diameter)
- 12v computer fan
- AC/DC adaptor
- Filter for a room air conditioner
- Toggle switch
- Hose clamp for the tubing
- Drill
- Soldering iron
- Hot glue gun
Simple Steps to Make Your Own Air Purifier
Thanks to the air purifier professionals at smartvacuums, we have an excellent set of quick and easy steps that you can follow in order to make your own air purifier. Just make sure you have all the items from the list above, and you’ll be ready to get started on the steps below.
Step One: Prep Your Tube
Take the PVC tube that you have picked up, and use the drill to make two small holes in it that the adaptor wires can go through. These holes will need to be close enough to the tip that you can install the fan without needing to stretch the wires too far.
Once the two holes are done, put the wires through them. Next, you can make a larger hole between the two small ones. This is where the toggle switch will be installed when ready.
Step Two: Wires and Soldering
Grab the two negative wires and twist them together. You can then solder them so that they stay attached. Take the positive wires and twist these, soldering each to the prongs that are on the toggle switch.
If you are having a hard time telling which is which, it should be noted that positive wires often have a white stripe on them and the negative wires are plain. If you find yourself in doubt, call an expert to make sure you get the ends right. After all, poor wiring leads to fire.
Step Three: Finalising Assembly
Take the toggle switch and push it through the large hole, then screw the anchor that comes with it on tightly. Ensure that your hot glue gun is nice and hot, and that the glue stick is melted and ready for application.
Glue the holes that the wires are in, and the area around the toggle switch. This is because it creates an airtight seal. Then, leave it to cool for a few minutes. Once this is done, you can place the fan on top, making sure that it is centred and that air is being pushed away from the tube.
When you are happy with the placement of the fan, use the glue gun to stick the corners down and keep it in place. Then, create an airtight seal around the edges of the fan and the surrounding pipe top.
Step Four: Attaching the Filter
Once you have your filter of choice (we always recommend HEPA because it is best), unfold it until it is at its full size. It will likely be very large, and you can cut it down to size. You need to make sure that it will cover the other end of the tube, go over the sides a little, and that it is four layers thick for the best results (maybe even a little thicker if you fancy it).
When you have found your ideal size, place it on top of the pipe and use the hose clamp to keep it in place. Make sure it is nice and tight, and then cut away any excess filter that remains.
Step Five: Powering On
Your filter is now ready for use, and all you need to do is plug it in. Once you do, it will start working right away, and it runs very quietly so that you won’t be disturbed while sleeping or working. The other bonus is that they last for a long time, and you’ll find they can withstand a lot.
With regards to changing the filter, it is easy to tell when this needs to be done. The filter itself will start to change colour, and once it gets to grey, you need to remove and replace it. On average, this tends to be a monthly occurrence, but it really depends on the air quality in your home.
To Conclude
Hopefully, this has been able to help you create your own air purifier in no time at all. Once you leave it running, you just have to sit back and watch as the filter collects all of the grime from your air.
Just remember to change it regularly so that you can benefit from maximum pollutant collection at all times. It’s one of the easiest air purifiers out there, and we know you won’t have any trouble getting it together.
