Cigar Lounge and Smoking Room Planner
At LakeAir, we pride ourselves on being dedicated to helping our customers have the best smoking rooms possible. Whether you are planning an upscale cigar lounge in Las Vegas or a humble mancave in your basement, LakeAir can help you achieve the results you are looking for. Our customers range from huge casinos like Potawatomi Milwaukee to Cigar shops like the Brass Pipe in Fort Pierce. We help with residential homes that cost millions on Lake Erie in New York and small hunting camps in western Minnesota. We supply smoke eaters to many American Legions, VFWs, Elks, and Moose lodges across our country. We even ship our products and technology to customers across the globe. If it has to do with cleaning the air in a smoky environment, LakeAir is the only name you need to know.
Local Ordinances
The most daunting detail outside of the cost of opening a Cigar Lounge or Shop is possibly going to be local ordinances. Most entrepreneurs don’t know what ASHRAE recommendations are and likely don’t have a clue what is in the International Mechanical Code. However, these highly respected organizations provide the prospective shop owner with the tools to get past the most ardent building inspectors and planning boards. This information can be found in many places throughout our website. A great place to take a deep dive into this topic is found on our web page, ” Smoking Establishment Permits.”
The thumbnail sketch is this: both ASHRAE and the International Mechanical Code make exceptions to allow smoking venues to substitute air purification for outside air ventilation. This fact will save you thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars. Many building inspectors don’t understand these codes themselves. Do not be afraid to present the facts. More often than not, the truth will place you in a position to move forward with your endeavor.
Commercial or Private Smoking Rooms
The information on this page applies to commercial and private smoking rooms. If you are building a private smoking room and want to use commercial equipment, we can help you scale your project accordingly. If you have a commercial location with a lower volume, we can help you effectively use products traditionally used in homes. If our information offering leaves out some points you need, please call us at 800-558-9436. We will be glad to help you with any stage of planning or purchases you might need.
Identify Your Priorities
Smoke Removal
A good piece of news is that all LakeAir Products in this section are effective at removing smoke. However, there is an order to their effectiveness. These filters are described in great detail in many places on our website. You can click the associated links to look at the specifics of each filter type.
Ventilation
Ventilation may or may not be required by local ordinances. Ventilation can actually save you money and greatly elevate the cigar experience in your shop or home. we will present a section detailing some of the things you should know and consider as you plan your cigar room or business.
Odor Removal
Every LakeAir Product includes an odor-removal element. These elements are quantified into 3 levels. Like smoke removal filters, our carbon filters have been discussed in many places on the website. If you would like to review this information, see this informative section on smoke odor elimination.
- Single Layer Carbon filters – 300 to 450 grams of carbon with filter beds of 0.75 inches
- Double Layer Carbon filters – 900 -1000 grams of carbon with filter beds 1.5 to 2.5 inches
- Multiple Layer Carbon filters -1800 – 2750 grams of carbon with filter beds 3.0 to 4.5 inches
Noise levels
Having clean air in your smoking room is great! You can have that clean air with less background noise if you plan properly. If you plan for a larger unit or perhaps even an extra unit, you can set your system to run at a lower speed. Air purifiers use powerful blowers to move air through the filters. A LakeAir Air Purifier or Smoke Eater running at full speed produces 66-72 decibels of sound. This level of sound is about the same as the sound of a crowded restaurant. We will need to add more cleaning power to reduce the noise level while keeping the same amount of air cleaning. Click the Interactive Noise Level Demonstration to see how adding extra air purifying can affect the background sound levels in your smoking room.
Lets look at the following example: Below you see an interactive demonstration. The demo is set to calculate noise levels for a 500 square foot room with 8 foot high ceilings.
- Air Purification is set to 17-20 ACH Enhanced Air Quality. (air changes per hour, what we suggest for cigar smoking)
- The Noise Level adjustment is at 0 (all the way to the left)
- The comparable noise level registers as Crowded Restaurant
- The Total CFM (air flow in cubic feet per minute) shows 1239.5 CFM
This demo calculates everything dynamically. So, as you make changes in the fields the results change.
Adjust Noise Level Settings:
To demonstrate how much additional air purification is needed to reduce noise levels in the room, adjust the Noise Level Setting to the right 1 notch. Doing this changes noise reduction to 15%. We see the comparable noise level switches from crowded restaurant to normal conversation. At the same time the Total CFM increased to 1794.5. This demonstrates that to lower the background noise, and keep the same air purification level, we have to increase the air flow rate.
Choose a Filter Type:
Let’s chose a Filtration Type Select HEPA. when we select HEPA filtration new information pops up below. We are given a summary that shows we are currently set for 15% Background Noise Reduction, that we have chosen HEPA Filtration and to achieve our goal of a room of 500 Square feet we will need 2 LakeAir Smoke Eaters.
All of the controls on the “Noise Level Demonstration” are adjustable. We urge you to try this tool and look at the possibilities of clean air with low level noise that is available to you.
Creating a Budget for Your Smoking Room
Budgeting for your smoking room is crucial, and this guide provides insights into key cost areas:
- Smoke Removal Equipment: Options range from basic to premium, with costs increasing with removal efficiency. Budget between $3.05 and $7.65 per square foot (based on a 9-foot ceiling). Remember to adjust for your ceiling height.
- Installation: Costs vary depending on your skills and project complexity. Expect $150-$1500 per unit, but consider budgeting $400 per unit for professional installation. DIY options are available with proper tools and supplies.
- Filter Replacement: Choose between washable electrostatic filters (which require cleaning) or disposable HEPA filters (which are easier but costlier). Budget $400 per year per unit for electrostatic filter cleaning or $225-$450 per year for HEPA filter replacements.
- Odor Control: Implement carbon filters to remove odors. Basic, enhanced, and premium options exist, with costs ranging from $330 to $600 per year per unit.
Remember:
- These are estimates; actual costs may vary based on your specific project.
- Use the guide to create a realistic budget for your smoking room.
Budgeting for your Smoking Area
Creating a budget for your smoking room is a great way to get started. Whether you are putting a smoking area into your home or establishing a commercial lounge, a budget will help you shape an environment you can enjoy and afford. In this section, we will look at rough numbers for:
- Cost of smoke Removal Equipment
- Cost of Installation
- Cost of filter maintenance (washing & replacing)
- Supplemental Ventilation
For the sake of simplicity, we will use an average of the cost for electrostatic and HEPA filtration equipment. Because each smoke eater accounts for a fairly large volume of air, it is fairly likely that your cost will vary when your space size falls between unit capacities.
We will present 4 options:
- Basic Smoke Removal
- Improved Smoke Removal
- Enhanced Smoke Removal
- Premium Smoke Removal
Basic Smoke Removal: The basic smoke removal level is less than the amount we recommend. The basic smoke removal level (10 air changes per hour) is the level we suggest for a private smoking area with a couple of people smoking. The average cost for this level of smoke removal is $3.05 per square foot (with a 9-foot high ceiling). If your ceiling is higher or lower, you can adjust the cost accordingly
Improved Smoke Removal: An improved smoke level (15 air changes per hour) is also less than our recommendation. This level will remove the majority of the smoke, but a haze will linger with heavier smoking. The average cost for improved smoke removal equipment is $4.55 per square foot. Again, this cost is based on a 9-foot high ceiling, and you should adjust your cost accordingly.
Enhanced Smoke Removal: Enhanced smoke removal uses the figure of 20 air changes per hour, and this level should be relatively free of smoke. A haze may develop at peak surges. The calculated average equipment cost for enhanced smoke removal equipment is $6.15 per square foot. Remember to make adjustments to your cost based on your actual ceiling height above or below 9 feet.
Premium Smoke Removal: 25 air changes per hour are the standard for premium smoke removal. Based on the 9-foot ceiling height, a cost of $7.65 per square foot has been calculated. This level of smoke removal is considered to be overkill by most, but it certainly provides a great environment for smoking enjoyment.
The costs listed above are rough estimates that are prone to changes. Every room and every project presents unique challenges. This is a budgetary figure to help you plan your smoking area. Later on in this web page, we will present calculators to help you choose the actual equipment needed.
Installation
Installation of Smoke removal equipment varies widely. Depending on your personal skill sets or skill sets within your organization, you may or may not be able to install this equipment yourself. We have seen installation costs range from $150.00 to $1500.00 per unit. It pays to shop around. A skilled HVAC professional can install a smoke eater in less than 2 hours, including wiring. Each location will pose its own unique challenges. As a rule of thumb,b we suggest budgeting $400.00 per unit for installation. This is much less if you do it yourself.
Installation of a smoke eater is not rocket science; many shop owners have done a great job independently. Having the right tools and supplies is the key. If you rent a lift, either a scissor lift or a drywall lift, the muscle required for installation is not that great. If you purchase a wiring kit, or better yet, a WIFI Upgrade, the electrical work is pretty easy. LakeAir offers a number of kits to help make your smoke eater installation a simple task. Know you can call our customer service number for advice on installation. We have fielded calls from many customers and installers over the years and can help you make sense of almost any issue.
We have a detailed page that goes into depth, covering different types of installation, How to wire your units, and even advice on where to install them in your shop. You can find this great planning tool at our Smoke Eater Installation Page
WIFI can be a Game Changer
We have recently added WiFi to most of our products. This development has proven to be a game-changer for self-installation. With “onboard ” WiFi, you can hang a smoke eater, plug it in, and be ready for operation. Our systems allow you to control all functions from any Bluetooth device. Set it up on your cell phone or tablet. You can group units together and set schedules, and many other options are possible.
For most self-installers, the biggest hurdle is wiring the units. The WIFI option eliminates this. If your nearest plug is a long way away, we can install a custom power cord. We recently converted (2) LAFC-RC2 Units to 25-foot power cords. The additional cost was only $50 per unit. Add WIFI to your LakeAir Smoke Eaters and save yourself thousands of dollars, weeks of time, and a lot of headaches.
The cost to upgrade your LakAir products to Wi-Fi is $200.00 a unit. If you are buying multiple units, your cost will be less, and with orders of 4 or more units, Wi-Fi can be added at no additional cost. Another advancement with our Wi-Fi upgrade is that our products are completely compatible with many of the major automation platforms, including Lutron, System4, Savanah, and a host of others.
Using a drywall jack, you can easily lift your cigar air purifier into place. In this case, we used the shipping cradle to protect the finish of the smoke removal equipment.
A wiring kit allows you to easily connect your air purification equipment to an electrical supply. The wires are all color-coded for easy identification. The UL-approved connectors are lever-actuated for easy and sure connections. Wiring kits are sold by the length of wire needed. The wire is rated for heavy equipment use and is moisture—and heat-resistant.
LakeAir Now Offers Hanging Hardware Products and Kits
We find more and more customers interested in installing their own equipment. The problem for many is not knowing what hardware items to use. They are often concerned about buying hanging hardware strong enough to support their LakAir equipment safely. Each installable LakeAir unit is shipped with eyebolts that screw into the tops of the units. Now, you can buy the other hardware needed from the people you trust to clean the air in your homes and businesses. If purchased from LakeAir, the hardware needed to hang one unit 5 feet from the ceiling will cost about $50.00 (plus shipping) per unit.
To securely hang your LakeAir equipment, we suggest using eyebolts, quick links, turnbuckles, and a good-quality chain.
Quick links provide a secure way to join eyebolts, turnbuckles, and chains together. Turnbuckles allow you to adjust the level of your air purifiers
Be sure to buy a chain that will safely support your air-cleaning equipment. The chain we provide is much stronger than required, but in this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Budgeting for filter replacement costs involves choosing your filtration methods and setting your filtration standards. Replaceable filters cost more but require less effort. Washable filters require more maintenance and save you a bit of money. The odor removal cost will be the same regardless of which smoke removal filter type you choose.
Let’s look at some basic estimates to help you budget your filter replacement costs. The figures presented are based on a per-unit basis. There really isn’t a good way to do this on a square footage basis.
Electrostatic Filter Maintenance
The best thing about electrostatic filters is that they are washable. They offer good smoke removal, but they require frequent cleaning. A clean electrostatic filter cell removes 97% of the smoke that passes through it. As it gets dirty, that percentage drops. We estimate the efficiency drop is 1-4 percent a week. So, in 12 weeks, your filter efficiency may have dropped as low as 30%.
Washing the electrostatic filter takes a bit of time. We estimate 2 hours per unit for a single cleaning. This can be done easily if you have a dishwasher handy. As to a dollar figure, we estimate about $400.00 of labor and cleaning supplies per Year per unit
HEPA Filter Replacement Costs
HEPA Filtering is the most efficient filtration offered. It removes 99.97% of the smoke from the air. Replacing the filters is easy. You pull out the old filter, throw it away, and install the new one. The rub for most cigar shop owners is the replacement cost.
How often you need to replace the HEPA filter comes down to the volume of smoke that is put into the air. The casinos we service replace the HEPA filter every 3 months. Many of the more popular cigar lounges and cigar shops replace them every 6 months. Start-ups and less popular establishments will replace the HEPA filter once a year.
Keeping the frequency in mind, you can expect to spend $225 to $450 on HEPA filters per unit a year. (these prices are based on the savings provided by using our filter subscription)
Odor Control Filter Costs
We are increasingly seeing a shift in filtration priorities. Removing odor from the smoking establishment has never been as important as it is today. The only way to remove smoke odor is with odor-adsorbing media. The cost of “carbon” filters is one of the normal expenses in keeping the air clean in your cigar lounge.
We offer multiple levels of odor removal in all of our smoke eaters. We will refer to these as essential, enhanced, and premium odor-removing levels. Below is the annual budget for each level of odor removal
Basic Odor Removal
Basic odor removal is accomplished using ≅ 500-gram carbon filters that are replaced every 3 months.
- $330 per year per unit per YEAR
- ≅500 grams of adsorbing media
- replace every 3 months
Enhanced Odor Removal
Enhanced odor removal is accomplished using ≅ 1000-gram carbon filters that are replaced every 4 months.
- $450 per year per unit per YEAR
- ≅1000 grams of adsorbing media
- replace every 4 months
Premium Odor Removal
Premium odor removal is accomplished using ≅ 2000-gram carbon filters that are replaced every 4 months.
- $600 per year per unit per YEAR
- ≅ 2000 grams of adsorbing media
- replace every 4 months
Supplemental Ventilation (Optional)
As indoor smoking gains more acceptance, many municipalities are requiring supplemental ventilation. Each city, county, and township seems to have its own requirements. Some places are requiring 100% air replacement. LakeAir now provides equipment to help you provide extra ventilation. Honestly, the best way to clean the air in any space is to exhaust it outside and bring in fresh air. There are a couple problems with this plan, one its not at all affordable. Secondly, sometimes the air outside isn’t fit to bring inside. Wildfire smoke and local air pollution can make the 100% replacement method unusable.
If you are having an issue with a local inspector who insists on an unreasonable percentage of air replacement, point them to ASHRAE Standard62.1(2013b). ASHRAE is the accepted source on all things ventilation, and the above standard, “allows that filtration and air cleaning, together with recirculation, can be used as a substitute for a portion of outdoor air ventilation. This is conditional upon detailed analysis of contaminant sources, rates of contaminant removal by air-cleaning systems.”
The LakeAir LAC-MAU 900 can provide 900 CFM of clean air exchange for an outside source. Each LAC-MUA unit has a price tag of $1500.00. There are additional costs for vent grills and ducting. For most places required to provide this supplemental ventilation, a budget of $2000.00 to $3000.00 should cover this expense. While extra ventilation may or may not be required, it has several advantages for the shop owner. When you get busy, a good make-up air system can act as an extra air purifying device. It can also be set up on a schedule, and it can freshen up the air in your shop overnight.
How much Air Filtration will my Smoking Room need?
LakeAir is here to supply you with the air filtration for your smoking room. The question is, how much air purification do I need? We will answer this question and introduce the idea of adding Ventilation to help manage smoke when it get thicker than normal. Ventilation can also lower the costs of equipment purchases. If you need help using the Air Purification / Ventilation Calculator, we have detailed instructions. To see the Instructions, click on the Calculator Instructions tab below. Otherwise you can continue to the calculator now.
3 Steps to Clean and Affordable Air Quality in one easy to use Tool.
By taking these 3 steps you can improve the air quality in your cigar establishment. These steps include
- Determine the amount of Air purification & Ventilation you need.
- Balance air purification and ventilation to improve the air quality and reduce your operating cost
- Choose the air purifying equipment that is best for your budget and your maintenance style
Determine Amount Air Filtration / Ventilation Needed for Your Location.
The following calculating tool allows you to input most of the pertinent information about your shop. Here is a list of the things you will enter. We will explain them so its easy to understand. Experimenting with the Cigar Shop Ventilation Calculator will help
Smoking Area Size (dimensions)
(1) Enter the size of your shop. This information should be entered in the number of feet. You will enter the smoking area’s length, width and ceiling height. If the ceiling is sloped,, enter the average height. The areas square footage is shown in the right most display. If there are rooms in this area that don’t need air purification reduce the size by that amount. Don’t worry if you are a little off. This tool is to give you approximates. We can always adjust the final figures later.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to input numbers
Air Purification / Ventilation Split
(2) Choose a split between air purification and ventilation. A Slider is provided for this selection, the slider is broken down in increments of 5%. The more Air Purification you choose the higher your initial cost of equipment will be. There will also be a higher cost in filter maintenance. On the other hand the more Ventilation you choose the higher your HVAC bills will be. In some cases local ordinances may limit how much smoke you can evacuate to the outside of your building. in still other cases it may not be possible to vent your smoke outside at all.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to adjust slider
Level of Cleanliness
(3) Choose a level of air purification. You have 4 choices,10-13 ACH (air changes per hour) is the default and the minimum level you should choose. This level will remove a good bit of smoke but expect a smoky haze may be present as your shop gets more busy. 14-16 ACH will remove the smoke pretty well even when your shop is moderately busy. 17-20 ACH is where we like to steer people. At this level of air purification, your shop air is clean and only gets hazy when you are very busy. 21-25 ACH gives your shop very clean air. Running your air purifiers at this level will likely make your shop the cleanest in the area.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to adjust slider
Background Noise
(4) For some shop owners the amount of background noise created by the air purification is not an issue, others want their shops to be quiet. The 4th choice on the calculator chooses a noise level. The calculator adds a percentage of CFM to the total needed based on your choice. “Background noise not a Concern” calculates your air purification & ventilation needs based on running your equipment a full speed. This setting obviously will leave you the most (and loudest) background noise. Moderate Background Noise, calculates your required air volume +46%. This will allow you to have your desired cleaning level with 25% of the noise. The 3rd level of noise reduction adds 75% more cleaning volume to your total requirement. This amount of air purification will allow you to operate at your prescribed air quality level and provide a 50% noise reduction. The highest level of noise reduction shown in our calculator is 75%. At this level of noise reduction it will take 150% more cleaning volume to achieve the 75% noise reduction. The Calculator also provides a you with an example of this sound level in real world terms.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to adjust slider
Choosing a Filtration Type
(5) In this section you can choose a filtration type. You will notice as you choose different filtration types you final cost goes up and down. Each filtration type has its pluses and minuses.
- MERV 15 has a lower filter replacement cost but only removes 95% of the smoke. It save you money at the cost of dirtier air.
- HEPA gives you the cleanest air but carries a higher cost of filter replacement
- Electrostatic saves you money on filter replacement costs, but it requires frequent cleaning. The cleaning level starts at 97% but that efficiency drops as time goes by. We estimate the efficiency drops 1-3% per week.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to select option
Air Flow Breakdown and Calculator Summary
The first part section provides you with information on your total air flow requirements, based on the choices made further up in the calculator. This entire section is calculated “dynamically” and provides instant results as you change any information entered above.
The summary shows you what you chose above and what the resulting choices represents in the cost of cleaning the air in your Cigar shop / lounge / bar. The summary provides an estimate on what your replacement filter cost will be based on your filtration type. This cost is based on average costs and our recommended filter replacement schedules.
Image below is for illustration only ~ do not try to input numbers
Calculator Takeaways
We strongly suggest you play with the settings. Look at how performance and cost is affected by changing the different variables. If you would like help or more information about using the calculator please call 262-632-1229 for personal help.
This calculator is to educate the consumer. Whether you buy your air purification system from LakeAir or another company the results are going to be fairly close. We use sound and power statistics provided by the blower manufacturer. These air volume and resulting noise levels are documented and reliable.
Lastly if you would like to have us contact you with more information add your email address and phone number in the last fields and hit submit. One of our Air Purification specialist will contact you.
Ventilation for Compliance and Benefit
Balancing Ventilation and Air Purification
Fewer than 20% of our customers have ventilation as part of their clean air plan. Well, if you don’t include those who open doors and windows. The fact is there is no better way to supplement your air purification system than using fresh air. Combining room ventilation with air purification can lower the cost of heating and air conditioning, as well as the cost of air filtration.
The trick is to find the balance, which will be dictated by your location and local ordinances. In Arizona, Fox’s Cigars can open its doors nine months out of the year. But when it’s 115 outside, that’s not cost-effective. In West Virginia, some municipalities are requiring 100% ventilation as the trade-off for opening a smoking lounge.
It has been our experience that being able to supplement between 10 and 20% of your total air purification with ventilation is the sweet spot. This allows you to crank the ventilation when your shop becomes very busy. It also allows you to add fresh, clean air to your smoking room without losing all of the heated/cooled air out of the exhaust.
If you are required to use ventilation, use it as an asset. You won’t need as much air purification. If you choose to use ventilation in conjunction with air purification, develop a plan to elevate your lounge’s smoking experience. Adding a make-up air unit or power vent to remove the cigar smoke can greatly enhance your lounge’s feel. Air purifiers can remove smoke and odor but can’t make it smell fresh. That’s where ventilation steps in. A power vent pulls smoky air from your shop and dumps it outside. A power vent depends on clean air from neighboring areas or outside to fill the void. A more efficient method is a make-up air unit. a MUA (make-up air unit) uses powerful blowers to remove smoky air and pull clean air from outside. This is a great way to clean the air in the shop. However, it’s not always the most cost-effective. Depending on your location, you may be spending more when you exhaust air that you have paid to heat or cool.
In almost all instances, adding clean air from outside is a good idea. By removing smoky air, you are removing not only smoke but also some poisonous gases. Some of these gases, like carbon monoxide, cannot be removed by air purification. We can help you find the right balance for your smoking room.
Choosing when to use your ventilation system is Key. The Best times to use your ventilation system are:
- When the temperature outside does not require you to heat or cool the air
- When many smokers are overtaxing your Air Purification System
- At the end of your day, when your heating and cooling needs are lessened
LakeAir manufactures Make-Up Air units and Power Vents. These devices evacuate polluted air from a space. Which unit is better for your situation? The following information provides a brief description of each. These units are controllable via Bluetooth and can be programmed to turn on and off and to a different speed for a set amount of time.
The LAC-MUA (make-up air unit) is powered by two power blowers. These blowers can be controlled through a wall switch, by Bluetooth / WIFI, or both. This model is available with dual or combined blower control. Many times, different levels need to run on either the intake or exhaust side. Using dual controls, you can balance the blower speeds to equalize flow in and out of your space.
Determining what an MUA will cost you in reheating or cooling consists of a very complex set of calculations. AS AN AVERAGE, based on a 12-hour business day, the cost of energy to re-condition air brought inside by our MUA should cost between $75 and $100 a month. Your actual cost could vary greatly based on where you are located, the time of the year, the efficiency of your HVAC unit, and a good number of other factors. However, this page is about planning your cigar room/establishment. And this number gives you an idea about the cost of make-up air.
- LAC-MUA 900 dimensions 32 x 16 x 12 inch
- Controls Dual & Single WIFI
- Vent Capacity 100-1000 CFM in and out
- Power Use 120 volt AC 5 amp
- Speed Control Onboard or at the switch
- Fan Noise 41-72 dB(A) @ 15′
- Duct Size 8, 10, 12 inch Duct adapters
Price $1480.00-$1650.00
A power vent is a one-direction system that pulls air out of a space and dumps it into ducting to be carried outside. You are allowed to pull air out of a smoking area and dump it into another interior room.
Air pulled out of the room must be replaced by air from outside through a window or door. There are often enough open spaces in cracks and under doors to allow the air to fill the void left by a power vent.
If the room where you are removing the polluted air is tightly sealed, a power vent may not function as you desire. In this case, using a make-up air unit is much better.
- intake Vent Size 24″ x 24″
- Power Vent Dimensions 24″x 24″ x 10″
- Vent Capacity 100-1050 CFM
- Power Use 120 vole AC 3 amp
- Speed Control Variable
- Fan Noise 41-72 dB(A) @ 15′
- Duct Size 8″ or 12″
Price $985.00
Help Choosing the Best filtration type for Your Location
Throughout our website, we discuss the best way to filter smoke from the air. The truth is, there is no single answer. Every location and situation may require a separate approach. In the next section, we will briefly explore the 3 filtration options.
Purify the Air with a Smoke Eater
HEPA Filtration
- All LakeAir HEPA units have an MSRP of $2500.00
- The average annual filter replacement cost is between $600 and $1000
The Cleanest Solution
HEPA filtration offers the cleanest air in a single pass. Smoke goes in and never comes out. HEPA filtration is easy to maintain. In the busiest cigar lounges, the Filter only needs to be changed every six months.
The downside is that HEPA filtration costs 33% more than its less efficient cousin, the MERV 15 filter. It also allows 18% less airflow. However, with a properly sized blower, it more than makes up for its overall efficiency.
The HEPA filter has 25% less clean airflow than its electrostatic counterpart. The trade-off is the need for regular filter washing (about every 8 weeks).
Overall, we suggest HEPA Filtration more often than any other filtration type.
Electrostatic Filtration
- All LakeAir Electrostatic units have an MSRP of $2800.00
- The average annual filter replacement cost is $400.00
High Volume Air Purification
An electrostatic filter cell offers great smoke removal and a higher volume of airflow. Its 97% efficiency exceeds that of all media filters. Only the HEPA filter provides cleaner air in a single pass. In a standard system, the filter replacement cost is 58% less than that of the average HEPA/Media system.
The downside is the average 11% higher equipment cost and the extra work needed to remove, wash, and replace the electrostatic filter cell. Figure on spending 1-2 hours a month cleaning the filter cell every 8 weeks.
When the filter cell is clean, the system achieves 97% efficiency. We estimate that the filter loses 1-3% efficiency every week, and by the time 8 weeks are up, the efficiency could drop to as low as 73%.
MERV 15 Filtration
- All LakeAir MERV 15 units have an MSRP of $24000.00
- The average annual filter replacement cost is $600.00
Budget Air Purification
The MERV 15 filter provides shop owners with an acceptable way to clean the air even if they are on a tight budget. MERV 15 units cost 11% less than their more efficient counterparts. The filters remove 95% of the smoke from the air. They are easy to replace, and you can always substitute them with a HEPA filter at any time.
The only real downside to MERV 15 filtration is the lower cleaning efficiency The smallest and most dangerous smoke particles pass right through them.
Smoke Eater Maintenance Planning
LakeAir Products are designed with maintenance in mind. Our products are generational and will be around for a long time. Over their lifespan, some repairs are likely to be required. The product design is to make needed repairs easy and inexpensive. When you mount a LakeAir product in your home or business, it should never be removed.
Simple Parts
LakeAir uses simple parts that are flush mounted into the face of the smoke eater. These parts snap in and out for easy removal should it be necessary. These parts are common in many appliances and are readily kept in stock. Best of all, our parts are reasonably priced.
Easy Repair
We design all of our products to be simple to build, making them simple to repair. The image above shows all the wiring you would have to do to replace 2 blowers. You can see everything is color-coded. Products that last a generation are likely to need repairs, so why not make those repairs easy?
Friendly Design
Our design is built around ease of repair. We design units to be repaired and maintained in place. Our products are repairable by common people like you and me. The average shop owner can maintain his own smoke removal equipment if he chooses to. Clean air isn’t rocket science; it’s plain common sense.
Why LakeAir?
Why should you listen to the team at LakeAir about cigar room air quality? There are a couple of reasons:
- We are the only American Smoke Eater Manufacturer that is a member of the Premium Cigar Association.
- We are the only Smoke Eater manufacturer member of the Boutique Cigar Association.
- We have the Largest Line of Smoke Eaters in the USA, offering models from the floor to the ceiling and everywhere in between.
- Our Website teaches cigar shop owners to be Smarter Consumers. It offers information on current technology, proper system sizing, and one-on-one help in Air Purification System Design.
We help with the aspects of clean air and are deeply involved with organizations that protect and champion smoking rights. We are members of the Premium Cigar Association, The Boutique Cigar Association, and the Cigar Rights of America. We are involved with the people who run the Chicago and the Las Vegas Pipe shows. We help our friends and customers find connections in the smoking world. In short we are more than an air purifier company, we are part of the smoking community. More than advocating smoking rights, we also promote and encourage safe smoking practices.
You may not inhale your cigar the first time, but don’t be fooled; unless you have a very good smoke removal system, you inhale enough smoke to be hazardous to your health.
LakeAir @ PCA 2024
LakeAir dedicates a large portion of its attention to the Cigar Industry. The Cigar Industry is important to LakeAir.
4 Different Mounting Options
LakeAir Cigar Smoke Eaters mount anywhere from the Floor to the Ceiling and everywhere in between
Customer Education
LakeAir believes an informed consumer makes the best customer. Learn about your needs at LakeAir.
There are many aspects that create the best experience for a cigar lover. First of all you need to start with a great cigar. We will leave that to you. Creating an environment where your customers can truly enjoy that cigar, that’s something we can help with.
Cigar Shops & Lounges Protected by LakeAir
Here are just a few examples of cigar shops and lounges that use LakeAir Products to elevate the smoking experience with clean air
Room Dimensions
- 1500 Square Feet
- 10 Foot Ceilings
Nicky Blaines ~Indianapolis
Indy’s “Original Retro Bar” offers a unique experience in the city, catering to those looking for an intimate evening or the perfect atmosphere for a social night out downtown. Unlike noisy nightclubs, at Nicky Blaine’s you can actually hear yourself having a great time with your friends and colleagues.
Air Purification Equipment
- (8) LAFC Electrostatic Smoke Eaters
- 2.0 Carbon Filter Odor Control
Room Dimensions
- Square Feet
- Ceilings
24th Street Cigars - Phoenix
A family-run establishment, offering a unique experience that combine relaxation, good company and the finest selection of cigars in Phoenix
Air Purification Equipment
(3) LAFC-RC2 HEPA Smoke Eaters
3.0 Carbon Filter Odor Control
Room Dimensions
- 800 Square Feet
- 8 Foot Ceilings
Brass Pipe ~ Fort Pierce
The east coast of Florida has a cigar jewel. Come to Ft Pierce and enjoy a cigar in our lounge. Our LakeAir Cigar Air Purifiers provide a smoke and odor free place to enjoy a cigar in the Sunshine State
Air Purification Equipment
- (3) LAFC-RC2 HEPA Smoke Eaters
- 3.0 Carbon Filter Odor Control
- (2) LakeAir Power Vents
Room Dimensions:
- 1200 Square feet
- 14 foot ceilings
- Temp 68 Degrees
Viso Cigars ~ McKinney
Viso Cigar, where you can come together with other cigar lovers, build camaraderie, and share your passion for tobacco with others in the community. We have a spacious humidor, plenty of comfortable seating, and an advanced ventilation system to make your visit more enjoyable. Open 7 days a week!
Air Purification Equipment
- (4) LA2-RC2-HOC Smoke Eaters
- Level 4 Carbon Filter Odor Control
Room Dimensions
- 800 Square Feet
- 8 Foot Ceilings
Smoking Bear ~ Steamburg
Smokin’ Bear is a great place to enjoy your favorite cigar. This great establishment provides clean air using custom mounted LakeAir Smoke Eaters
Air Purification Equipment
- (3) LAFC-RC2 HEPA Smoke Eaters
- 1.0 Carbon Filter Odor Control
