Is a Negative Air Machine the Same as an Air Scrubber?

There are more tools than ever to improve air quality indoors. It can be challenging to know which ones to use, especially if you are not an expert in the subject. Understanding the differences between air purifying tools such as negative air machines and air scrubbers will help solve this problem.

Are negative air machines the same as air scrubbers? The short answer is “no,” but what’s the difference? Both technologies are used to improve air quality, but how do they work? When should you get a negative air machine rental or an air scrubber? Let’s explore these questions.

What is a Negative Air Machine?

Negative air machines use a powerful fan to push air out of a room or compartment. If the room is sealed, the room’s air pressure will drop, creating a slight vacuum. This allows you to accomplish two things: remove airborne contaminants and control airflow.

By pushing air out of a room, negative air machines pull air in the room towards themselves. This means that particles, dust, and infectious agents in the air are sucked out of the room. This is useful for spaces that contain high amounts of airborne contaminants that you don’t want to spread.

Negative air pressure has a fascinating effect on the flow of air. Higher pressure air always wants to fill low-pressure areas. By reducing the air pressure in a room filled with airborne materials you do not want to spread, airborne particles will stay inside if you open a door. Pressure imbalance allows you to control airflow, limiting the spaces with contaminated air. Negative air machine rentals allow you to control air quality temporarily or on a budget, which is a great way to manage your business costs while still providing top-notch safety to your staff and clientele.

What is an Air Scrubber?

Some people use the term “air scrubber” to mean negative air machine, but these are different technologies. An air scrubber uses a negative charge to attract air particles. Many airborne particles are positively charged, so a negatively charged air scrubber will pull contaminants out of the air.

Applications of Negative Air Machines and Air Scrubbers

With all that said, when should you rent a negative air machine versus an air scrubber? While both pieces of technology are useful for cleaning and purifying the air, the applications are quite different.

Negative air machines are primarily used to manage air quality in a specific room or space. Typical applications of negative air machine rentals include heavy renovations and biohazard control. While a negative air machine can operate in a room that is not completely sealed, they work best when airflow is tightly controlled.

An instructive example of the purpose and function of a negative air machine is asbestos abatement. Breaking or cutting asbestos creates tiny airborne fibers. These fibers can cause cancer if they are inhaled. Removing asbestos is complicated because these particles are generated during the renovation process. Using a negative air machine both pulls the asbestos fibers from the air and stops these fibers from spreading to clean rooms.

Air scrubbers are often designed for permanent use and installation in buildings but are not as effective at focused contaminant removal. Their most significant advantage is being able to operate in spaces that are not sealed. While air scrubbers can pull particles towards themselves, negative air machines are much more effective at cleaning the air in a specific space. Air scrubbers can also be installed in the exhaust system of large industrial plants.

Negative Air Machine Rentals

It is easy to confuse air cleaning equipment, but it is essential to pick out the right tool for the job. Air scrubbers and negative air machines are not interchangeable and using the wrong one can lead to significant problems. While air scrubbers help improve the air quality in an entire building on an ongoing basis, they are not designed for cleaning the air in a specific room or compartment. You cannot rely on air scrubbers to handle air quality for either very sensitive or very heavy-duty tasks.

Negative air machine rentals are a great way to manage air quality in a controlled space. Combining air pressure control and airflow out of the room means limiting and containing air purity issues. This makes negative air machines an ideal choice for many applications.