DIY Air Purifier Outperforms Expensive Options in Virus Protection

Can a Budget-Friendly, At-Home Air Filtration System Combat Viral Contamination in Your Household?

Will a DIY Air Filter Zap Viruses from Your Home?

Want a powerful way to protect your home from flu and COVID-19 viruses without breaking the bank? Look no further than a cheap, do-it-yourself air purifier that has proven its effectiveness in tests conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This DIY filter, made using supplies readily available at your local hardware store for only $60, has even outperformed pricey off-the-shelf alternatives. Are you curious about the secret behind its success? Well, let’s dive into the details.

Dubbed the Corsi-Rosenthal Box, this innovative air purifier is the brainchild of Richard Corsi, dean of engineering at the University of California, Davis, and Jim Rosenthal, CEO of Tex-Air Filters. Constructing the Corsi-Rosenthal Box is surprisingly simple. All you need are four MERV 13 rated furnace filters, a standard 20-inch box fan, some good old duct tape, and a cardboard square. Just tape the filters together to create a cube, attach the fan to the top, and use the cardboard as the bottom of the filter box. Voila! You have your very own air purifier.

But does this DIY device actually work? Well, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development put it to the test in their advanced chamber that mimics real-world conditions. And the results were impressive! After running for just 30 minutes, the homemade filter box removed a whopping 97% of airborne viruses, which increased to over 99% after an hour. That’s right, this low-cost DIY technology outperformed many expensive commercially available air purifiers, proving its infectious aerosol removal capabilities.

But wait, there’s more! The secret to its success lies within its simplicity. By drawing air through the filters using a mechanical fan, the Corsi-Rosenthal Box spits out clean air from the top. Its effectiveness in removing tiny virus particles from the air is proof of its efficiency. In fact, the performance of the student-built filter boxes decorated as “Owl Force One” was just as impressive as those crafted by EPA scientists themselves. It’s truly remarkable how a DIY project has managed to make a big impact in virus protection.

Now you might be wondering, where can you find these magical MERV 13 filters? Fear not, they’re readily available at various stores, including Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and even Amazon. These filters, commonly used in furnaces and air conditioners, are efficient enough to trap and filter out small particles in the air. So, once you’ve acquired the necessary materials, you can start assembling your very own Corsi-Rosenthal Box and enjoy the benefits of breathing in clean air.

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Marina Creed, director of the University of Connecticut’s Indoor Air Quality Initiative, and her team have been on a mission to spread the benefits of the Corsi-Rosenthal Box throughout Connecticut. They’ve donated over 150 air purifiers to protect vulnerable individuals from smoke generated by Canadian wildfires. Additionally, they’ve provided materials and lesson plans to schools to improve indoor air quality and educate students about the scientific and technological concepts behind these devices.

It’s truly inspiring to see how a fifth-grader from Commodore Macdonough STEM Academy in Middletown, Conn., caught wind of the university’s project, reaching out to Creed to be a part of this innovative solution. The young student wrote, “Your invention could help us…Would you be willing to share the plans of the Corsi-Rosenthal?” This heartfelt letter led researchers from the University of Connecticut to visit the school, guiding students through the construction of several CR Boxes.

But the story doesn’t end there. Owl Force One, the air purifier built by the students, underwent rigorous testing at the EPA’s Office of Research and Development. And guess what? It performed just as well as the EPA-crafted filter boxes. The fact that Owl Force One worked equally effectively on low speed, preferred by teachers to keep classroom noise down, proves its adaptability to various settings. The results from these experiments are set to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, but due to ongoing cold and flu seasons and COVID surges, researchers decided to share the findings early.

So why wait? With cold and flu season upon us, and COVID-19 still a concern, take control of your indoor air quality by building your own Corsi-Rosenthal Box. By trapping viruses in the air instead of inhaling them into our bodies, we can reduce our exposure and minimize the risk of infection. Not only will these homemade air purifiers protect you from viruses, but they will also help filter out other indoor air pollutants, such as smoke and emissions from cooktops.

Breathing in clean air can have profound effects on your overall well-being. According to Marina Creed, the air produced by a Corsi-Rosenthal Box is akin to the refreshing mountain air. Just imagine that fresh, invigorating breath filling your lungs. And the best part? It only takes $60 and a little bit of duct taping to bring that sensation to your home. So why not grab your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and embark on this fun and beneficial DIY project? Your brain will thank you, and you’ll feel better overall.

Breathe easy, folks, and stay safe!

Sources: – Katherine Ratliff, PhD, physical scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Marina Creed, APRN, director, University of Connecticut Indoor Air Quality Initiative, Farmington – University of Connecticut, news release, Oct. 30, 2023