Does air conditioning reduce PM2.5 ?

[Skeptic7]

AI Overview

 

No, air conditioner filters are not effective at reducing PM2.5. However, you can use a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter to improve indoor air quality. 

Explanation

Air conditioner filters are not designed to remove PM2.5, which are smaller particles that are difficult to see with the naked eye. 

Air filters are usually located near the return air duct and are better at filtering dust, pollen, and other allergens. 

Air filters with a higher MERV rating are better at filtering particles. However, MERV ratings were not developed to measure PM2.5. 

Activated carbon filters are designed to remove chemical pollution and odors, not particulate matter. 

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When indoors, keep doors and windows closed and be aware that the air filters fitted to your residential air conditioners cannot remove PM2.5 from the air. You can use a portable air purifier to improve the indoor air quality. It should have a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. 

 

https://www.meinhardt.net/news/particulate-matter-2-5-microns-pm2-5-indoor-air-quality-your-health/#:~:text=Minimise%20the%20amount%20of%20time,not%20developed%20to%20measure%20PM2.

[newbee2022]

On 1/25/2025 at 12:30 PM, fvw53 said:

I live in an apartment opposite Bangkok Golf Club in Pathum Thani where according to AQAir.com the PM2.5 was 180 at 12 noon.

I keep my air conditioner operating the whole day at a setting of 28 C

Recently a bought an Air Quality Detector and it indicates in my apartment a PM.5 value of 29 (also at 12 noon)

Does air conditioning reduce PM2.5  and keep the dust in the filter?

 

Yes 

[fvw53]

5 hours ago, SanSaiExPat said:

How often do you all have a guy come out and clean your A/C unit and what to you pay?  500 baht?

Every 6 months / 1500 Baht for two air conditioners

[Nemises]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes 

 Not all AC units are designed to remove PM2.5 effectively. To specifically target PM2.5, look for units with specialized filtration or consider a dedicated air purifier.

[Nemises]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Does air conditioning reduce PM2.5  and keep the dust in the filter?

Not all AC units are designed to remove PM2.5 effectively. To specifically target PM2.5, look for units with specialized filtration or consider a dedicated air purifier.

[newbee2022]

27 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Not all AC units are designed to remove PM2.5 effectively. To specifically target PM2.5, look for units with specialized filtration or consider a dedicated air purifier.

Not my post. Sorry 

[Medicine Man]

I stayed in a cheap hotel and took my pm 2.5 meter with my during an escape south. The air quality definitely improved overnight with the AC running. I would suggest others with a meter do a similar test. The air is being blown over a tray capturing the water from the humidity. I think that this can trap PM 2.5 particles.

[JimmyTobacco]

The only way to find out is to turn the aircon and a PM2.5 meter on and observe. Our aircon doesn't filter PM2.5, but we bought a filter on a roll that we manually put inside the aircon. This seems to help quite a bit, in combination with an air purifier.