Get Rid of VOCs & Stubborn Odors - Portland
New paint, off-gassing furniture, cooking smells, pet odors - activated carbon filters, air scrubbers, and proper ventilation handle them all. We install the right combination for your situation.
What Are VOCs and Why Do They Matter?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- •Chemicals that evaporate at room temperature
- •Off-gas from paints, furniture, flooring, cleaners
- •Health effects: headaches, dizziness, respiratory irritation
- •Long-term: cancer risk, nervous system damage
- •Indoor concentrations 2-5x higher than outdoors
Common VOC Sources
- •New paint and solvents
- •Furniture and cabinetry
- •Carpet and vinyl flooring
- •Cleaning products and aerosols
- •Dry-cleaned clothes
- •Printers and photocopiers
Common Indoor Odors in Portland Homes
New Construction
VOC off-gassing from materials lasts 6-12 months. Portland's active construction market means many homes have chemical odors.
Cooking Odors
Fish, garlic, onions, and spices linger in open-concept Portland homes. Range hoods often don't eliminate all cooking smells.
Pet Odors
Urine, dander, and grooming odors from Portland's high pet ownership. Cats and dogs add ammonia and organic compounds.
Mold/Mildew
Musty odors from Portland's humid climate. Damp basements, crawlspaces, and bathrooms create persistent mold smells.
Smoke Odors
Cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, or wildfire smoke infiltration. Particles and odors cling to fabrics and surfaces.
Chemical Fumes
Cleaners, paints, adhesives, and air fresheners. Synthetic fragrances and chemical residues create indoor air pollution.
How We Eliminate VOCs & Odors Through Your HVAC
Activated Carbon Filters
- •Absorbs gases, VOCs, odors (unlike HEPA)
- •Effective for chemicals, smoke, cooking odors
- •Placed in return air or standalone
- •Lifespan: 3-6 months depending on VOC levels
- •Cost: $100-$300 per filter
Gas & odor absorption specialist
Air Scrubbers
- •Neutralizes VOCs and odors with oxidizers
- •Works on surfaces and air simultaneously
- •Continuous 24/7 operation
- •Best for pet odors, cooking smells, smoke
- •Cost: $1,200-$2,000 installed
Advanced odor neutralization
ERV Systems
- •Dilutes indoor VOC concentrations
- •Brings fresh filtered air indoors
- •Exchanges stale indoor air for fresh
- •Essential for new construction VOC removal
- •Cost: $1,500-$3,000 installed
Fresh air dilution system
UV-C + Photocatalytic
- •Breaks down chemical compounds
- •UV-C light + photocatalytic oxidation
- •Effective against VOCs and odors
- •Complements activated carbon filtration
- •Cost: $600-$1,200 installed
Chemical compound destruction
Best Solution by Odor Type
Pet Odors: Air Scrubber + MERV 11 Filter
Air scrubbers neutralize pet odors and dander, while enhanced filtration captures pet hair and allergens. This combination eliminates pet odors while improving air quality for the whole family.
Portland's high pet ownership makes this combination extremely effective.
Cooking Odors: ERV System
Energy recovery ventilators exhaust cooking odors and bring in fresh filtered air. Perfect for open-concept Portland homes where cooking smells travel throughout the house.
ERV systems are designed specifically to handle cooking exhaust and odor dilution.
VOCs (New Construction): Activated Carbon + ERV
Activated carbon filters absorb VOCs from new construction, while ERV systems dilute indoor concentrations with fresh outdoor air. Essential for recently built or renovated Portland homes.
New construction VOCs can take 6-12 months to off-gas completely.
Mold/Musty: UV-C Light + Dehumidifier
UV-C lights kill mold spores in HVAC systems, while dehumidification prevents mold growth by maintaining humidity below 60%. Addresses both the cause and symptoms of mold odors.
Portland's humid climate makes mold prevention crucial year-round.
Wildfire Smoke: HEPA Filter + Air Scrubber + ERV
HEPA filtration captures smoke particles, air scrubbers neutralize smoke odors, and ERV systems bring in filtered fresh air while diluting indoor smoke concentrations.
During Portland wildfire season, this combination provides maximum smoke protection.
Activated Carbon Filtration Details
How Activated Carbon Works
Activated carbon has millions of tiny pores that trap gas molecules through adsorption. Unlike HEPA filters that capture particles, carbon absorbs chemical compounds, odors, and VOCs. The large surface area (up to 1,000 square meters per gram) makes it extremely effective at removing gaseous pollutants.
Carbon absorbs gases that HEPA filters can't touch - it's the perfect complement to particle filtration.
Installation Options
Carbon filters can be integrated into your existing HVAC filter rack or installed as standalone units. Whole-home systems place carbon filtration in the return air stream, while room-specific units can target problem areas like kitchens or pet rooms.
We can retrofit carbon filtration into most existing HVAC systems without major modifications.
Replacement Schedule
Carbon filters typically last 3-6 months depending on VOC and odor levels in your home. During high-pollution periods (new construction, heavy cooking, wildfires), replacement may be needed more frequently. We offer subscription services for automatic filter delivery and replacement.
Cost: $50-$150 per replacement filter, depending on size and carbon density.
Air Scrubber Technology for Superior Odor Control
Photocatalytic Oxidation Process
Air scrubbers create hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide through photocatalytic oxidation. These oxidizers break down odor-causing compounds at a molecular level, neutralizing smells rather than just masking them. The process works continuously as air circulates through your HVAC system.
Unlike air fresheners that add fragrances, air scrubbers actually destroy odor molecules.
Surface & Air Treatment
Air scrubbers treat both airborne odors and odors embedded in surfaces and fabrics. The oxidizers spread throughout your home, neutralizing smells in carpets, furniture, and upholstery. This makes air scrubbers particularly effective for pet odors and long-standing household smells.
Air scrubbers work where other systems can't - eliminating odors from surfaces and fabrics.
Continuous 24/7 Operation
Unlike filter-based systems that need replacement, air scrubbers operate continuously without consumables. They integrate with your HVAC system, providing constant odor control as long as your system runs. No regular maintenance or filter changes required.
Once installed, air scrubbers provide continuous odor control with minimal attention.
Ventilation for VOC Dilution and Fresh Air
ERV Systems for VOC Control
Energy recovery ventilators bring fresh outdoor air indoors while exhausting stale indoor air. This dilutes indoor VOC concentrations and provides continuous fresh air exchange. ERV systems are particularly effective for new construction VOC off-gassing and general indoor air quality improvement.
ERV systems can reduce indoor VOC levels by up to 50% through dilution alone.
Fresh Air Exchange Benefits
Proper ventilation exchanges stale indoor air (loaded with VOCs and odors) for fresh filtered outdoor air. This prevents pollutant buildup and maintains healthy indoor air quality. In Portland's mild climate, ventilation systems can operate year-round without excessive energy cost.
Fresh air dilution is one of the most effective ways to reduce indoor VOC concentrations.
Filtered Fresh Air
ERV systems include filtration on fresh air intakes, ensuring that incoming outdoor air is clean and free of pollen, dust, and pollutants. This is especially important in Portland during wildfire season and high pollen periods.
Portland's outdoor air quality varies significantly - ERV filtration ensures only clean air enters your home.
VOC & Odor Control FAQs
What's the best way to remove VOCs from new construction?
Pair activated carbon filtration with an ERV ventilator. The carbon filters absorb VOCs from building materials while the ERV dilutes indoor concentrations with fresh filtered air. This combination can cut VOC levels 70-90% in the first few months. Opening windows when weather allows and running exhaust fans in high-VOC areas helps too.
How can I eliminate persistent cooking odors?
ERV systems work great here - they exhaust the stale kitchen air and bring in fresh outdoor air. Make sure your range hood vents outside, not back into the kitchen. Air scrubbers are also very effective at breaking down cooking odors. Best approach: proper kitchen ventilation plus an ERV for whole-home air exchange.
Do carbon filters really work for chemical odors?
Yes — activated carbon is specifically designed for gases, VOCs, and chemical odors that HEPA filters can't touch. The gas molecules stick to the massive surface area of the carbon through a process called adsorption. Carbon is the go-to solution for chemical fumes from cleaners, paint, and new construction.
How long do carbon filters last?
Depends on your odor levels. Average homes: 3–6 months. High-odor environments like heavy cooking, new construction, or multiple pets: 1–3 months. When the carbon gets saturated, odors start breaking through — that's your cue. We recommend swapping every 3 months for best results.
Can air scrubbers eliminate pet odors completely?
Air scrubbers are extremely effective — they destroy odor-causing compounds at the molecular level rather than covering them up. Most homes notice the difference within 24–48 hours. For best results, pair the scrubber with regular pet bathing, litter box upkeep, and carpet cleaning. Multi-pet households see the biggest improvements.
What's the most cost-effective solution for general odor control?
Start with enhanced filtration — MERV 11–13 combined with activated carbon runs $100–$300 and handles most situations. For persistent or strong odors, step up to an air scrubber ($1,200–$2,000) for much better performance. If you're dealing with multiple odor sources, an ERV system ($1,500–$3,000) gives you continuous fresh air dilution.