Cigar Smoke Eater / Cigar Air Purifier
America is falling in love with cigars all over again. We get a large number of calls from customers trying to find a way to enjoy their cigars at home. For those of you looking for a very good cigar smoke and odor solution, LakeAir is the only place you need to look. We have the largest line of air purifiers for cigar smoke anywhere. The focus of this page is mainly for cigar lovers in their homes. However, we are finding more and more homeowners are installing commercial cigar smoke equipment in homes and offices. The selection of products below are our favorites for removing both stogie smoke and odor.
TableTop Cigar Air Purifiers
Maxum HEPA 120
The Maxum HEPA 120 is our most complete cigar air purifier for smaller spaces. The 900 gram carbon filter removes cigar odors while the 2.5″ HEPA filter completely removes smoke. When you need extra odor control choose the Maxum HEPA 120
$850.00
- 500 CFM Air Purification Volume
- True HEPA 2.5 inch (99.97% Efficient)
- 900 gram activated carbon filter
- size 17 x13 x 13
- 490 CADR
- 12 air changes per hour in a 300 square foot space
- Table Top / Shelf / Floor
Maxum HEPA
The Maxum HEPA is a great-all around air purifier. This model focuses more on particulate capture than the odor. If smoke is the bigger issue for you choose, the Maxum HEPA with the large HEPA filter
$850.00
- 500 CFM Air Purification Volume
- True HEPA 4.5 inch
- 300 gram cannablend adsorbent
- size 17 x13 x 13
- 490 CADR
- 12 air changes per hour in a 300 square foot space
- Table Top / Shelf / Floor
MAX 700
The MAX 700 offers a high efficiency washable filter. No need to buy replacement particulate filters. The MAX-700 provides 650 CFM of 97% efficient cigar smoke removal. This unit quickly removes cigar smoke and odors. The main filter is easily washed in a household dishwasher.
$995.00
- 650 CFM Air Purification Volume
- Washable electrostatic filter (97% efficient)
- 300 gram activated carbon filter
- size 17 x13 x 13
- 12 air changes per hour in a 400 square foot space
- Table Top / Shelf / Floor
Portable Cigar Air Purifiers /Smoke Eaters
MAX Guard HEPA 120
The MAX Guard HEPA 120 is our Premium Portable Cigar Air Purifier. The 900 CFM volume and 890 CADR removes cigar smoke and odor from large spaces. The 2000 gram fast acting carbon filter makes it one of the most effective odor removing air purifiers on the market. This unit is a quick and complete answer for an elevated smoking experience.
$2500.00
- 900 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- True HEPA 2.5 inch
- 2000 gram activated carbon filter
- size 26 x 22 x 14
- 890 CADR
- Suitable for a 300 square foot area with up to 5 cigar smokers
- Floor / Portable on Casters
MAX Guard HEPA
The MAX Guard HEPA is a versatile Cigar Smoke Eater. The 900 CFM volume and 890 CADR helps it serve very well as home and commercial unit. The 4.5 inch carbon filter paired with a 1000 gram odor adsorbing filter makes it one of the most effective HEPA air purifiers sold.. The all-metal construction is indicative of this products overall value. If you want a premium air purifier for the home that can easily handle cigar smoke, the MAX Guard HEPA is a good choice for you.
$2500.00
- 900 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- True HEPA 4.5 inch
- 1000 gram activated carbon filter
- size 26 x 22 x 14
- 890 CADR
- Suitable for a 300 square foot are with 3 smokers
- Floor / Portable on Casters
MAX Guard Electrostatic
The MAX Guard Electrostatic moves more air than ANY other home or office cigar air purifier. The 1500 CFM volume can provide 12 air changes per hour to a 900 square foot area. For Commercial smoke removal this unit will clean the air 20 times in a 500 square foot area every hour. The 1000 gram carbon filter will remove odors including cigar odor very well. You get all of this performance and a main filter that cleans up in your dishwasher.
$2800.00
- 1500 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- 97% efficient washable main filter (dishwasher safe)
- 1000 gram activated carbon filter
- size 26 x 22 x 14
- Suitable for up to 5 cigar smokers in a 500 square foot area.
- all steel construction
- Floor / Portable on Casters
Commercial Cigar Air Purifiers
LAFC-RC2 HEPA Commercial Cigar Air Purifier
The LAFC-RC2 HEPA is one of 4 big hitters in our commercial line up. This unit is used by many cigar shops and Lounges to Keep the air clean in their lounges. The Brass Pipe in Fort Pierce is one such lounge. Look to this LAFC to keep the air free from smoke and cigar odor.
All LAFC units are available in both black and white. For an additional charge you can order the exterior shell in vinyl clad steel. For even more customization, ask about having your lounges name cut into the grills.
$2500.00
- 900 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- True HEPA 4.5 inch
- 300 – 1800 gram activated carbon filter
- size 48 x 24 11 inches
- 890 CADR
- Services a commercial smoking are of 300 sq feet with a 10foot ceiling
- Mounting options : hung from / flush in ceiling / flush to ceiling / ceiling grid
LAFC-RC2-Electrostatic Commercial Cigar Smoke Eater
Great cigar lounges Like Nicky Blaines in Indianapolis count on the LAFC-RC2 Electrostatic cigar smoke eaters to keep the air clean and free of odor. This unit boasts 1500 CFM of clean air purification. The washable filter cell helps cut costs on maintenance. If you need the best for your cigar project, install the very best, install LakeAir.
This unit easily installs in a drop ceiling grid. This unit can be suspended form the ceiling as well, or add our flush mounting kit and screw it right to the ceiling. While these units re truly commercial in nature they are still installed in quality home cigar rooms across America
$2800.00
- 1500 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- 4.5 inch Electrostatic filter cell (97% efficient)
- Pre Filter and Main Filter washable (dishwasher safe)
- 300 – 1800 gram activated carbon filter
- size 48 x 24 x 11 inches
- Services a Commercial smoking area of 400 Square foot with a 10 foot ceiling
- Mounting options: hung from / flush in ceiling / flush to ceiling / ceiling grid
LA2-RC2 HEPA /Odor Control Commercial Cigar Air Purifier
The LA2-RC2 HEPA is another of our most popular cigar room air purification systems. This model is used by many cigar shops and smoking lounges to maintain clean air in their lounges. Viso Cigar in McKinney Texas uses four of these beauties to elevate the smoking experience you can count on the LA2 to keep the air free from smoke and cigar odor. The 2750 gram activated carbon filter makes certain your customers don’t leave smelling like an ashtray.
$2500.00
- 900 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- True HEPA 4.5 inch
- 2750 gram activated carbon filter
- size 22 x 21.5 x 19 (h) inches
- 890 CADR
- Services a commercial smoking are of 300 sq feet with a 10foot ceiling
- Mounting options: hung from the ceiling / wall mount (with bracket) / cart mounted
LA2-RC2 Electrostatic /Odor Control Commercial Cigar Smoke Eater
LA2-RC2-EOC is another popular choice for smoking establishments across America. The 1500 CFM circulation capacity combined with a 2750 gram virgin activated carbon filter makes this unit the biggest bang for the buck. These units seem to hide well when placed against a dark ceiling.
$2800.00
- 1500 CFM Air Purification Capacity
- 4.5 inch Electrostatic filter cell (97% efficient)
- Pre Filter and Main Filter washable (dishwasher safe)
- 2750 gram activated carbon filter
- size 22 x 21.5 x 19 (h) inches
- Services a Commercial smoking area of 400 Square foot with a 10 foot ceiling
- Mounting options: hung from the ceiling / wall mount (with bracket) / cart mounted
Choosing an Air Purifier for Smokers
Above you see some great air purifiers for smokers. But how do you pick the right one for you, for your home and for your budget? The rest of this web page will be dedicated to helping you find it. There are a few key elements to consider in choosing your cigar air purifier. The five deciding factors we will examine are:
- Amount of Air Cleaning Needed
- Types of Smoke Filters
- Odor Control Options
- Where do You put the Air Purifier
- What are the Unit and Maintenance Cost
How Much Air Cleaning Do You Need to Effectively Remove Cigar Smoke?
To determine how much air purification you need to filter cigar smoke from the air we can use some general guidelines that have been able to establish over the years. We have found that the following numbers serve well as a guideline. The amount of cleaning is expresses as “air changes per hour”. This is the number of times we are able to filter the air in a space in 1 hour. The more times you filter air the cleaner it becomes. For this discussion we will look specifically at the number of times an hour you need to filter the air to remove cigar smoke. (as a side note to determine cleaning cycles for cigarettes, you can reduce the values by 20%)
For basic air cleaning, filtering the air 10 times an hour is sufficient. For what is considered improved air quality, a frequency of 15 air cleaning cycles per hour is closer to what we need. Enhanced air quality (a level we suggest for most commercial applications) is achieved with 20 air cleaning cycles per hour. Premium air quality can be realized in a cigar smoking environment with 25 air changes per hour.
- Basic Cigar Smoke Removal 10 ACH
- Improved Cigar Smoke Removal 15 ACH
- Enhanced Cigar Smoke Removal 20 ACH
- Premium Cigar Smoke Removal 25 ACH
To accomplish the air cleaning level desired we will need to choose an air purifier that can provide enough air purification. A good quality air purifier will be labeled with its air cleaning capacity. Are cleaning capacity is listed in CFM (cubic feet per minute). To determine the CFM required to provide a level of air cleaning we want, we can to use a formula to calculate this amount.
The formula to calculate CFM required is rather complex. I will list it here, but we provide a calculator to do the math for you in the next section: The formula to do this math requires a number of steps. First off we need to multiply the room dimensions to give us the cubic feet of the space. Next we divide the product of that math function by 60 (60 minutes in an hour). Next we take this second answer multiply it by the number of air cleaning cycles desired. This gives us the total CFM we need to clean the air in a space a particular number of times per hour.
Example
A 15’ X 15’ X 15’ living room
Step 1: 15 x 15 x 15 = 3375 ft3
Step 2: 3375 ft3 / 60 minutes = 56.25 ft3 per minute
Step 3: 56.25 ft3 per minute x 8 air changes per hour ( our chosen cleaning level) = 450 cfm (cubic feet per minute)
Cigar Filter Options
Cigar smoke is created by burning natural elements, mostly tobacco smoke. The majority of tobacco smoke particles has a size around 2.5 microns. Burning some natural elements produce smoke with a micron size as small as 0.1 micron. A LakeAir air purifier for smokers offers 3 different main filters to capture smoke; HEPA, Electrostatic and MERV 15 Media. Each one of these filter types has its plusses and minuses. We will look at all 3 of these filter types to help you choose the filter type you think will best suit your needs. Every LakeAir Purifier for smoke includes an activated carbon filter that removes tobacco smoke odor extremely well.
HEPA Filtration for Cigar Smoke
A HEPA filter is the most effective way to filter smoke from the air. It is designed with multiple layers of synthetic and natural fibers woven together to form layers of particle trapping media. A mini pleat design is used in our HEPA air purifiers. This design produces a filter that can hold more smoke particles before they need to be replaced. The image to the right shows one of our HEPA filters cut on a cross section. Notice how the filter media is formed into deep narrow cavities that hold large amounts of cigar smoke.
The HEPA filters we use are made by Glasfloss a respected filter manufacturer in the USA. You won’t have to worry about cheap filters off gassing in your homes when you buy a HEPA air purifier from LakeAir.
LakeAir True HEPA filters are tested and guaranteed to remove at least 99.97% of all smoke particles as small as 0.3 micron. Recent NASA studies have shown these filters are even more effective on smaller particles. The bottom line is smoke goes into a HEPA filter and does not come out. We offer 2 different thicknesses of HEPA filters in our air purifiers for smokers. Both Filters offer the highest level of smoke removal. The smaller of the two HEPA 2.5 is thinner than the 4.5 and is pictured to the right. It will have just over 1/2 the capacity of the 4.5 HEPA filter. We use this filter in select models to allow more room for extra carbon odor filtration.
HEPA Negatives
Super clean air isn’t the only thing cigar lovers are looking for. The following is a list of some of the reasons you might not want to opt for HEPA Cigar Filtration.
- High Cost of Filter replacement: For a commercial smoke eater we estimate you will need to change to the HEPA filter between 1 and 2 times in a year. this could add up to $500.00 of annual upkeep costs.
- Blower wear and tear: Because a blower has to work extra hard to pull air through a HEPA filter your blower could last a significantly shorter time.(Note: a LakeAir blower is rated to last up to 40,000 hours of continuous use at full speed.
- Ecologically Unfriendly: HEPA filters cannot be recycled. They should be disposed of as low-level hazardous waste. Compared to an electrostatic smoke eaters, HEPA units add an additional 36,000 cubic inches to our countries’ landfills.
HEPA Positives
HEPA Cigar filtration has been known to be the most efficient standard filtering method. Some of the Highlights to HEPA air Filtration are:
- Super High Efficiency: TRUE HEPA filters remove 99.97% of smoke from the air at a size of 0.3 microns. Actually, it is even more effective on finer smoke. Nothing removes more smoke in a single filtering cycle.
- Easy Change out: The time it takes to remove a HEPA filter is just a few minutes in comparison with over an hour of Electrostatic. (including washing the filter).
- Quiet Operation: HEPA filters don’t make any zapping noise. the thick filter muffles some of the sound from the blower.
- No Possible Ozone Emission: LakeAir HEPA filters are made in the USA. these systems produce no ozone and they do not have any off gassing.
Electrostatic Filtration for Cigar Smoke
Electrostatic is a favorite of many cigar lovers. This technology adds a negative charge to smoke particles which are then trapped on collecting plates. The filtration is up to 97% efficient. This efficiency drops off if the electrostatic filter is not cleaned regularly. Electrostatic filters are washable and last decades. By washing the filter as opposed to replacing it the cigar smoker can save hundreds of dollars each year.
Electrostatic filter can be the best answer to your cigar smoke air purifier filter questions. Let’s take a look at a few more of the aspects of this type of filtration: The filter uses high voltage to charge and capture cigar smoke particles. That same high voltage will make your filter sound like a bug zapper when large particles enter it or if it is in bad need of washing. Washing of the filters is easily done in a standard home dishwasher. The image to the right shows a MAX Guard filter sitting in a portable dishwasher. We had to remove the sliver ware try but it fits well and cleaned up nicely. When washing an electrostatic filter by soaking, rinsing and allowing to dry, we figure it takes a little over an hour of your time, and the dry time is 2-3 hours
Electrostatic Positives
Electrostatic cigar filtration outsells both HEPA and Media by more than 4 to 1. The main reasons Electrostatic is most popular are:
- Washable Filtration: An electrostatic filter is made of mostly aluminum and fiberglass. The smoke and other pollutants are trapped on the collection plates. The filters must be washed often releasing the dirty particles and renewing the effectiveness of the filter.
- Long Lasting ~ No Replacement costs: The electrostatic filter cell will last 20 years or more. In it’s life cycle the savings when compared to HEPA filtration is approximately $9000.00
- High Efficiency: A LakeAir electrostatic filter is 97% efficient in removing smoke from the air. This Higher than MERV 15 and slightly lower than HEPA filtration.
- Low Pressure Drop: These cigar filters allow much more air through them with this back pressure. This results in more air being cleaned compared to HEPA filtration.
- Less Motor Wear: The HEPA filter makes a blower work much harder and therefore we should expect that its life will be shorter. we find that The HEPA air purifier are 3 times as likely to fail compared the electrostatic models.
- ECO: Friendly: Over the life of a commercial smoke eater the electrostatic filter will save around 36,000 cubic inches of landfill. It is more eco-friendly to wash than throw away filters that cannot be recycled.
Electrostatic Negatives
While electrostatic filters are popular, they certainly have things people don’t like. The following are a list of complaints we most often hear from customers:
- Bug Zapper Sounds: When an electrostatic filter gets dirty it is likely to start shorting. The electrical short sounds like a bug zapper. This noise can dominate a room, scare pets and be a general nuisance.
- Dirty Cells are Inefficient: An electrostatic cigar filter depends on good electrical charge. When a filter gets dirty, the dirt insulates the air from the filtering properties. If you don’t clean this filter, it becomes useless.
- Filter Cleaning Takes time and effort: Unless you have machines to clean your filter the job is messy and takes time and effort. This is probably the reason so many people don’t clean the filter often enough.
- Ozone Emissions: While some electronic air filters produce a small amount of ozone as a byproduct of the cleaning process, this amount is usually well below safety standards. However, ozone can irritate lungs at high concentrations. Here at LakeAir, we take your health seriously. That’s why our Electrostatic Filter, when paired with its carbon filter, emits NO ozone into the room, ensuring a safe and clean breathing environment.
MERV 15 Filtration for Cigar Smoke
MERV 15 Media filters remove 90-95% of the smoke that enters them. The finer smoke slips through the filter media. If your goal is to provide clean air the MERV 15 might not be such a good cigar smoke filtration option.
The primary reason people select MERV 15 media as a purifier for smoke is to save money on the cost of replacement filters. MERV 15 filters are about 40% cheaper than HEPA filters and have a similar life span. In a heavy cigar smoking environment, you will need to replace a MERV 15 filter more often than the HEPA filter.
Another reason people choose MERV 15 over HEPA filters is greater air flow. The MERV 15 filter will allow around 20% more air to pass through it. This isn’t normally a good enough reason to choose MERV 15 filters, but for some customers these advantages add up to enough of a reason to choose MERV 15 Cigar smoke filtration.
MERV 15 Positives
We added the high-capacity MERV 15 filter to our line to offer a lower entry price with a reasonable filter replacement cost. The High-Capacity aspect should offer longer replacement intervals. Some of the reasons to like this filter are as follows.
- Good Smoke Capture: This filter will remove 95% of the smoke in the air stream.
- 1000 CFM + Through Put: With a lower backpressure this filter will allow up to 1100 CFM of air filtration.
- Lower Replacement Cost: The MERV 15 Media has a price tag 33% Lower than the same size HEPA filter.
MERV 15 Negatives
The MERV 15 Media was introduced as a cigar filter option to lower costs. Lower cost while good also leads to something you may not be so excited about.
- Lowest Efficiency of all LakeAir Smoke Eaters: MERV 15 filters can’t remove all the smoke from the air. Their rating calls for only 95% or better removal of fine smoke.
- Slightly smaller filter size: The New MERV 15 filter is 1/2 inch shorter than the standard filter and will be shipped with foam to fill gaps in filter boxes.
- Non-Recyclable: The High Capacity MERV 15 cigar filter cannot be recycled. It will need to be sent off to the landfill, making it a less sustainable product.
Removing Cigar Odor from the Air
It seems that the main complaint about cigars is the odor. Removing the cigar odor from the air is so important that we have designed some air purifiers for smoke to have a smaller smoke filter capacity to allow for more odor absorption. Removing cigar smoke from the air is a straight forward process. If you use the right filters the smoke is gone in just a cleaning cycle or two. Cigar smoke odor however is a bit trickier. Cigar odor is removed from the air using an odor absorbing media. The best media around for stogie odor is activated carbon.
The primary filter removes the smoke from the air. The odor in gaseous form remains and travels through the carbon filter. In the carbon filter the odor molecules come into direct contact with the carbon crystal and are adsorbed. This adsorption isn’t automatic. It takes a certain amount of time for carbon to soak up the odor. This amount of time is known as residence time. The longer odors are in direct contact with the activated carbon the more of the odor that is removed.
For the best odor removal in a single pass a longer filter bed is preferred. LakeAir cigar air purifiers have a bed length from .1 to 3.0 inches. The bed length dictates how much odor is removed in 1 pass the carbon weight determines the total amount of odor that can be absorbed.
Odor Removing Filter Labeling
Our carbon filters are labeled showing the quantity of carbon a filter contains and the length of the filter bed
Example: Maxum Super Carbon Filter ~ 300 gram carbon / 0.75 inch filter
This label tells the customer that this carbon filter contains 300 grams of carbon and has a filter bed length of 0.75 inches. We use this labeling to help customers compare filters and filters that may be available for different units.
When you compare the different air purifiers for smoke that we offer, look at the carbon filter rating to understand how well that unit will remove odors. Remember, the amount of carbon determines how much odor a filter can hold, and the filter bed depth tells you how much odor the filter will remove in a single pass. An air purifier with 900 CFM of air flow and a 2000 gram filter will remove odors from a room twice as fast and remove 7 times more than a unit with 500 CFM and a 300 gram carbon filter. As always if you need help understanding this concept you can call us at 800-558-9436 and / or visit our carbon filter page
Where should you place your Air Purifier for Smoke?
Where should you place your air purifier for cigar smoke? There are several factors to take into consideration when making this decision. The first rule is placing the air purification equipment as close to the source of smoke as possible. In this case put your cigar smoke eater as close to the cigars and ashtrays as possible. The sooner the smoke enters the cigar filtering system, the sooner it is eliminated from the room air.
Think about how much smoke continues to roll out of a cigar as it smolders in the ashtray. If you are using a table-toptop cigar air purifier, this makes perfect sense, but in many cases, maybe even most of the time, it’s just not practical. LakeAir offers more air cleaning mounting options than any other brand. Let’s look at some of the mounting options available with LakeAir products and give you more insight into this aspect of product purchase planning.
Available Mounting Options for Home Cigar Air Purifiers
Table-Top:
The Maxum line are the table-top units in the LakeAir Product Family. These units are 17 inches wide and are 13 inches deep and 13 inches high. Maxum models offer a 6-foot power cord and range in air cleaning capacity from 275 CFM to 650 CFM. They have carbon filter capacities from 300 to 900 grams. The Maxum line offers both HEPA and Electrostatic primary filters. The price range is $700.00 to $995.00.
This series of products are referred to as table-top units, but in many cases, they are mounted on the wall with an optional wall mount kit. It is not uncommon to have them placed on shelves, or in my case on top of a curio cabinet. We are often asked if they can be put on the floor, and the answer is most certainly yes. The thing to remember is; you must allow air to flow through them to work. Like any cigar air purifier, the closer they are to the source of the cigar smoke the better
The 3 Maxum models suitable for cigar smoke are Maxum Electrostatic, Maxum HEPA, and the MAX-700. The Maxum HEPA models provide a number of different filter options based on amount and type of odors.
Floor Units:
The MAX Guard line are the floor units in the LakeAir Product Family. These units are 22 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 26 inches tall. These cigar air purifiers are heavy. They weigh 80-90 pounds. This air purifier for smoke is built on 4 heavy duty casters allowing the MAX Guard to roll around a room easily. They are very sturdy and work well as an end table, you can stack over 100 pounds of household goods on top of them.
The MAX Guard comes with an 8′ power cord. They offer air cleaning capacity from 900 CFM to 1500 CFM making them the best air purifier for smokers. This is accomplished by dual reverse curve blowers in each unit. MAX Guard units include carbon filtration in each unit and contain from 1000 grams to 2000 grams of carbon. The main cigar smoke filtration options include MERV 15 Media, True HEPA and washable electrostatic filter cells. The price range for the MAX Guard is $2100.00 to $2600.00
The model names for this set of cigar smoke eaters are MAX Guard-S (electrostatic), MAX Guard-HEPA, MAX Guard-M15. Like all LakeAir model families there are several variations in the HEPA filtration models to allow for more or less carbon capacity and an assortment of different carbon media blends.
One thing to notice about MAX Guard line is that the clean air is exhausted out the top on 3 sides. This does a nice job of redistributing clean air in the room but may make the unit less than perfect to sit right next to. Keeping the unit close to the smokers is easy with the long electrical cord and casters, however serious consideration should be given in designing your cigar smoking area.
Ceiling Mounted Units:
The CM2 line represents 1/2 of the LakeAir Product Family ceiling mounted line. These units are intended to hang from the ceiling or be mounted to the ceiling or fit into a drop ceiling grid. There are many different ways to mount the CM2 in your home if you are looking for a way to include ceiling cigar air purification to a room or area.
Because these units are ceiling based, it makes sense to wire them to a wall switch. However, we will add a power cord and onboard speed control to your CM2 at no extra cost. The face of the unit is 24 inches by 24 inch with a 13 inch product height. The main cigar smoke filtration options include True HEPA, (Washable) Electrostatic, and MERV 15 Media. Carbon filter capacity for the CM2 line is 600-900 grams. The Models currently offered in the CM2 line are CM2-RC2-HEPA, CM2-RC2-M15, (MERV 15 media), CM2-RC2-S (washable electrostatic filter cell) and the Odor Killing CM2-RC2-HEPA 120 which offers an 1800 gram carbon filter and a filter bed that is 4.5 inches long.
A ceiling mount unit till now has only been prevalent in commercial applications. However, because cigar smoke tends to rise a ceiling mount can be a highly effective cigar smoke air purifier. This system does not work for everyone and perhaps even a little less desirable for residential air purifiers for cigar smoke. We already sell many of our commercial cigar smoke eaters (LAFC-RC2 line) to homeowners. If you feel a commercial unit is the best option for you they can be found on our commercial smoke eater page. You can always call us to inquire about any air purification needs.
Commercial Mounting Options
LakeAir Commercial Cigar air purifiers are designed to be fitted into commercial locations. They use 24 inch on center spacing that is not common in most residential buildings. That doesn’t mean that commercial units can’t be used in homes or the other way around. LakeAir cigar air purifiers will do a great job removing cigar smoke and odor whether you use them at home or at your professional location.
Wall Mounted Commercial Option:
LakeAir has a wall mount option. It is called the WM-RC2. This unit is designed to be built into a wall with studs that are 24 inches on center most commonly found in commercial buildings. This air purifier for smoke offers the same filtering packages as the MAX Guard line. The pricing is identical to the MAX Guard line as well. The WM-RC2 face is 24 inches wide, 32 inches tall and it is 11 inches deep. In a standard residential wall, it will protrude 6.5 inches into the adjacent area. We sell quite a few of these models to home owners but the unit is designated as commercial use. Please call us with questions about putting a commercial wall mount cigar air purifier into your home or office. You can find more information through our commercial smoke eater page.
Commercial Duct Mounted Option:
A commercial cigar smoke removal option that we see a little less often is a ducted system. These tend to be used is high end applications where cost is less of a concern. The fact that you will need to add the cost of ducting and exhaust and intake grates make this option out of some peoples budget. Another issue in a duct system is you lose a good deal of air cleaning volume due to friction within the ducts and in turns.
If you would like to explore this option, you can explore the LAAS line by calling our customer service experts at 800-558-9436 or check them out on our commercial smoke eater page.
Comparing the Cost of Products and Maintenance
Because we offer so many different air purifiers for smoke, it is easy to lose track of what cost more or less. To help our customers sort through the different costs we have prepared the two lists below which rank out cigar air purification systems by cost in both “unit cost” and “filter replacement costs”. This is uses filter subscription pricing and was updated in January 2024.
Product Rank by Unit Cost lowest to highest
| Model | Unit Cost | Main Filter | Carbon filters | Annual Cost |
| Maxum Electrostatic | $700.00 | washable | 4 x 25 | $100.00 |
| Maxum HEPA | $850.00 | $180.00 | 4 x 49 | $376.00 |
| Maxum HEPA-120 | $850.00 | $160.00 | 3 x 89 | $425.00 |
| MAX-700 | $995.00 | washable | 4 x 49 | $198.00 |
| CM2-RC2-M15 | $1,650.00 | $135.00 | 3 x 89 | $402.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA | $1,750.00 | $180.00 | 3 x 89 | $447.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA 120 | $1,750.00 | $160.00 | 2 x 150 | $460.00 |
| CM2-RC2-S | $1,850.00 | washable | 3 x 89 | $267.00 |
| MAX Guard M15 LAFC-RC2-M15 WM-RC2-M15 | $2,200.00 | $165.00 | 3 x 95 | $450.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA LAFC-RC2-HEPA WM-RC2-HEPA | $2,300.00 | $225.00 | 3 x 95 | $510.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA-120 LAFC-RC2-HEPA-120 WM-RC2-HEPA-120 | $2,300.00 | $215.00 | 3 x 185 | $770.00 |
| LA2-RC2-HOC | $2,300.00 | $225.00 | 3 x 200 | $825.00 |
| MAX GUARD S LAFC-RC2-S WM-RC2-S | $2,600.00 | washable | 3 x 95 | $285.00 |
| LA2-RC2-EOC | $2,600.00 | washable | 3 x 200 | $600.00 |
Product Rank by Filter Replacement Cost lowest to highest
| Model | Unit Cost | Main Filter | Carbon filters | Annual Cost |
| Maxum Electrostatic | $650.00 | washable | 4 x 25 | $100.00 |
| MAX-700 | $995.00 | washable | 4 x 49 | $198.00 |
| MAX GUARD S LAFC-RC2-S WM-RC2-s | $2,495.00 | washable | 3 x 95 | $285.00 |
| Maxum HEPA | $795.00 | $180.00 | 4 x 49 | $376.00 |
| Maxum HEPA-120 | $795.00 | $160.00 | 3 x 89 | $427.00 |
| CM2-RC2-M15 | $1,550.00 | $160.00 | 3 x 89 | $427.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA | $1,650.00 | $180.00 | 3 x 89 | $447.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA 120 | $1,650.00 | $160.00 | 2 x 150 | $460.00 |
| MAX Guard M15 LAFC-RC2-M15 WM-RC2-M15 | $2,150.00 | $165.00 | 3 x 95 | $450.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA LAFC-RC2-HEPA WM-RC2-HEPA | $2,295.00 | $225.00 | 3 x 95 | $510.00 |
| LA2-RC2-EOC | $2,600.00 | washable | 3 x 200 | $600.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA-120 LAFC-RC2-HEPA-120 WM-RC2-HEPA-120 | $2,295.00 | $180.00 | 3 x 185 | $735.00 |
| LA2-RC2-HOC | $2,295.00 | $225.00 | 3 x 200 | $825.00 |
Ways to reduce Filter Replacement Costs
Filter Subscriptions:
Not all subscription products are the same. Our filter subscription program is used by over 90% of customers who are aware of it. There are a few advantages to choosing a filter subscription. (1) your average saving will be around 15% and sometimes more. (2) filter subscriptions are always shipped for free. Combing the savings on the product and free shipping is a win/win. (3) you won’t have to remember to change your filters; a new filter will show up when it’s time to replace the old one. (4) in many cases buying a filter subscription will give your cigar air purifier an extended warranty. You can read more about this exciting development on the filter subscription page. Because we offer so many different subscription options the best way to get in on this money savings is to give us a call at 262-632-1229. No wonder 90% of new customers are opting for filter subscriptions. Your LakeAir Product is going to last a very long time. Save money and keep it running efficiently.
4-Packs:
A simple way to save money on filters is to buy bundle packs. We will sell you 4 carbon filters of any type at a discount and throw in free shipping. If you don’t see the carbon filter you want to purchase as available in a 4 pack, just give us a call at 800-558-9436 and we will give you a special price and take your order over the phone. Don’t be worried about storing carbon filters for long periods of time. As long as the carbon filter is sealed in an airtight container it will never go bad.
Planning Your Cigar Room
This section of the page brings together tools and tips on how to set up air filtration for any room where smoking is a primary activity. In this section we speak specifically about cigar smoking but the material presented applies to all types of smoking including cannabis. While this page speaks to residential recommendations, they will, in most cases apply well to commercial smoking venues.
The equipment talked out on this page refers specifically to LakeAir products but the concepts and advice can be applied to any brand smoke eater or air purifier.
Budgeting for your Smoking Area
Deciding to set aside a space for smoke is a smart choice! It protects your family, pet and belonging from dangers of secondhand smoke. In planning your cigar room (or other smoking activity), a good place to start is with your budget. Many homeowners make the mistake of not properly budgeting air purification into their plans.
For those of you who simply want a number, you can use the following numbers that are a rough estimate of the equipment costs. The initial equipment costs may seem to be the one single factor. In truth there are several factors to take into account; equipment, installation, filter replacement, maintenance and energy costs.
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 in between unit capacities.
We will present 4 options:
- Basic Smoke Removal
- Improved Smoke Removal
- Enhanced Smoke Removal
- Premium Smoke Removal
Basic Smoke Removal: Basic smoke removal level is less than the amount we recommend. 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 or (a minimum of $700.00) 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 (a minimum of $700.00). 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 is the level should be relatively free of smoke. A haze may develop at peak usage times. The calculated average equipment cost for enhanced smoke removal equipment is $6.15 per square foot (a minimum of $700.00). Remember to adjust your cost based on your actual ceiling height above or below 9 feet.
Premium Smoke Removal: 25 air changes per hour is the standard set for premium smoke removal. Based on the 9 foot ceiling height a cost of $7.65 per square foot (a minimum of $700.00) has been calculated. This level of smoke removal is considered to be overkill by most, but 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. We will present calculators to help you choose the actual equipment needed later in this web page.
Installation
Most of the residential air purifiers for smoke that we sell are simple plug in and use. Several models we sell do require installation. Depending on your personal skill sets, 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. A skilled HVAC professional can install a smoke eater in less than 2 hours including wiring if mounting and wiring is straight forward. Some locations offer tremendous challenges like the image to the right. As a rule of thumb, we suggest budgeting $400.00 per unit for installation.
Installation of a smoke eater is not rocket science and many homeowners have done a great job on their own. Having the right tools and supplies is the key. If you rent a drywall lift the muscle required for installation is not that great. If you purchase a wiring kit, 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 customer and installers over the years and we can help you make sense of almost any issue.
By 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 length of wire needed. The wire is rated for heavy equipment use and is moisture and heat resistant.
Budget Filter Replacement Costs
Filter Replacement costs vary from unit to unit. We have prepared a short list of popular models and their associated annual filter costs.
| Model | Unit Cost | Main Filter | Carbon filters | Annual Cost |
| Maxum Electrostatic | $650.00 | washable | 4 x 25 | $100.00 |
| MAX-700 | $995.00 | washable | 4 x 49 | $198.00 |
| MAX GUARD S | $2,495.00 | washable | 3 x 95 | $285.00 |
| Maxum HEPA | $795.00 | $180.00 | 4 x 49 | $376.00 |
| Maxum HEPA-120 | $795.00 | $160.00 | 3 x 89 | $427.00 |
| CM2-RC2-M15 | $1,550.00 | $160.00 | 3 x 89 | $427.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA | $1,650.00 | $180.00 | 3 x 89 | $447.00 |
| CM2-RC2-HEPA 120 | $1,650.00 | $160.00 | 2 x 150 | $460.00 |
| MAX Guard M15 | $2,150.00 | $165.00 | 3 x 95 | $450.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA | $2,295.00 | $225.00 | 3 x 95 | $510.00 |
| MAX GUARD HEPA-120 | $2,295.00 | $180.00 | 3 x 185 | $735.00 |
Cigar Room Layout
We receive many questions about where the best place is to mount cigar room air purifiers. The best place as far smoke filtration goes is as close to the smoke as possible. The sooner you can get the smoke into the filter the better off you will be.. If you know where the smokers are likely to be in the room, that’s the place for the smoke removal machine. Let’s look at some different room dynamics. These examples can give you ideas where a cigar air purifier(s) might do the best job for you.
High Ceilings:
For rooms with high ceilings, consider a combination of approaches:
- Ceiling-mounted: Install smoke eaters near the ceiling to capture the majority of rising smoke. placing the smoke eater near the ceiling can be effective in capturing smoke particles. Ceiling-mounted smoke eaters can help filter out the smoke before it stratifies and spreads across the room.
- Mid-level: smoke may stratify below the warmest level of the room air. Identify the specific levels at which smoke tends to accumulate and position the smoke eater accordingly. This may involve some investigating to determine where stratification commonly occurs and using a ceiling hung unit to remove the smoke at this level.
Lower Ceiling:
- Wall-mounted: Mount smoke eaters at head height or slightly above on walls facing seating areas. This can effectively capture smoke without using a air purifier that hangs to low into the room
- Portable units: Consider strategically placing portable smoke eaters near areas with high smoke concentration, like around ashtrays or seating clusters.
Things to Consider:
- Room layout and furniture: Place floor units away from furniture and fixtures to avoid obstructing airflow. Arrange the seating to minimize direct exposure to air purifier exhaust as this may create a chill.
- HVAC: Make sure that your HVAC vents, exhaust fans and air intake systems work effectively in conjunction with smoke eaters. If your HVAC system channels smoke away from your purification system, it will be less efficient.
- Aesthetics: Choose smoke eater models like our in wall model (WM-RC2) that blend seamlessly with your cigar room’s walls or LAFC units that are designed to mounted in a ceiling grid. Another design option is to create concealed installations with units like the LAAS.
- Room Size: The size of your room impacts how smoke moves though the room. You may need to add additional smoke eaters to cover a larger area.
Simple Layout Example:
Below is a simple smoking-room layout plan. There are a few points that can help you keep the smoke out of the rest of your home. This is not the only way or necessarily the best, it is however a simple option
- Be Sure there is a good seal around the entire door.
- Seal off the return vent so that no smoke goes into your central system
- Allowing air to enter the room through the HVAC in this will provide the room with positive air pressure
- Crack A window to allow excess pressure to escape outside keeping the house free of smoke
Frequently Asked Questions About Cigar Air Purifiers
Our cigar smoke eaters work very well. They were designed specifically to remove smoke and its odor from the air. Cigar smoke poses a larger problem because it is very aromatic. A quality smoke eater will clean the air 10 or more times an hour. By pulling smoke through a True HEPA Filter and a large volume of activated carbon it is possible to neutralize cigar, cigarette, and weed smoke. Our clients who smoke cigarettes and cigars have found the technology in our cigar smoke eater is highly successful.
The simple answer is ” Yes”, an air purifier that has sufficient power to clean the air several times an hour with both HEPA and Carbon filter will remove cigar and cigarette smoke.
Smoke particles are captured by HEPA filters and the smell of smoke is adsorbed with activated charcoal filters. All types of smoke, including cigar smoke, can be eliminated by air purifiers.
A cigar smoke eater is designed as a suction machine with either one filter or multiple filters along with a fan or blower. They draw in the air with their powerful air draw. They remove smoke particle in the HEPA filter. They can lessen the smell of smoke or other impurities while enhancing the clarity and quality of the air in your house or commercial facility.
The best way to remove smoke odor from the air is to draw it through activated carbon. Our cigar smoke eaters have a large amount of odor absorbing media for this purpose. For extra odor removal we suggest the HEPA-420 models which have 3 times more activated carbon.
A True HEPA filter removes 99.97% of smoke from the air. Once smoke enters into a LakeAir HEPA filter it is gone forever. We offer True HEPA filtration in several air purifiers on this very page.
What LakeAir Cigar Air Purifier Customers have to Say
We know how important customer product testimonials are to consumer confidence. We will try to keep adding more Testimonials as we come across them. You can find these same reviews on the review sites we cite. We work hard to keep our customers happy and we will work hard to earn your continued business. You can
Linda Beochia
The Lake Air Smoke Eater we purchased has been better than we ever imagined. My husband is a committed cigar smoker and this machine keeps my home smelling fantastic. As far as customer service goes this company has been lovely and accommodating in every way. I recommend Lake Air to everyone. Thanks
Nicolas Lim
In a cigar lounge, clean air is key to happy customers. LakeAir filters have delivered day in and day out, the best service ever. Their customer service is always helpful and Randy (the owner) has been extremely helpful on many occasions.
Bud Anderson
the smoke eater/air filter is just what we needed.. the unit randy recomended was perfect for our application. we have been using it for 6 months with no problems or complaints. i would highy recomend lake air if you are in need of an air perification unit. awsome customer service as well.. THANKYOU RANDY FOR ALL YOUR HELP
Bud Anderson
the smoke eater/air filter is just what we needed.. the unit randy recomended was perfect for our application. we have been using it for 6 months with no problems or complaints. i would highy recomend lake air if you are in need of an air perification unit. awsome customer service as well.. THANKYOU RANDY FOR ALL YOUR HELP
Tamie Robison March 18 2022
I’ve been searching for a smoke eater, came upon your site, bought the home model a year ago and I’m in love with my smoke eater, I clean it monthly, easy peasy and I just replaced filter with the canna filter, wow it works fabulous
Mark Stevenson Dec 1, 2022
Choosing the smoke eater was very easy on R K Ventures website. It was easy to navigate and very educational. Most helpful when trying to decide which unit was right for my business. Also if you need to call for help Randy was there to answer any questions, Very Professional. I would recommend anyone to this company.
Barbara Coutlas Feb 21, 2022
I called there to order and guess what? The president of the company answered! I could not believe my ears! Where do you go that you get a real person to talk to you without waiting a hour or so? I loved it and I would recommend these people totally. If you need a LakeAir product or a filter for them just let these people know! They will certainly take good care of you!
Jason Mets Feb 01, 2023
Quick response and answers to questions…
Quick response and answers to questions and AMERICAN MADE.
Reviews from our websites Product Reviews
My wife hates the smell of my cigars, I bought the Maxum Electrostatic to help clear the cigar odor from my den. It works great and now I don’t get in hot water with my wife over my favorite cigar. Thanks ALOT LakeAir!~
Bonnie Thomas (verified owner)- June 15, 2021
I have had the Maxum in my home for approximately 6 months. I bought the Maxum because my husband smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and I smoke half pack. I noticed a difference in the air from the first day I turned it on. The filter that came with Maxum worked just great through the winter. This Spring I decided to get the larger filter. I haven’t had a chance to try out the new filter yet because I had some problems installing it. I have to say the people at LakeAir went over 110% to help me fix the problem. For those of you that still smoke in your home, I would highly recommend the Maxum to rid your home of the odors from smoking. My home is approximately 1000 sq ft and the Maxum covers that area with no problem.
Electrostatic Smoke eaters have the benefit of being able to clean and reuse the filter. So I thought I would give it a try I purchased the MAX-700 smoke eater for my cigar room. They were available to answer all my questions and concerns, shipped the product to me quickly and I was able to unbox and plug in the unit in no time with no effort.
The MAX-700 Smoke Eater handles the smoke and removes all the cigar odor in my room including the residual order left over the next day.
I am quite impressed and happy with the product and service provided by LakeAir. I strongly recommend LakeAir and it was a pleasure to do business with them.
Enjoy the smoke eater! Does what its supposed to. Is a little louder than I had thought, however, no big deal. Customer service is SUPER!!!!
Commercial Cigar Air Purification Examples
This year we have helped over 30 new smoking establishments open. You can feel reassured knowing that some of the best cigar shops in the country use LakeAir products. Below we will list just a few of our great cigar shop customers who use LakeAir smoke eaters to keep their air clean.
Room Dimensions
- 1600 Square Feet
- 11 Foot Ceilings
Jersey Smokes ~ Jackson NJ
When you are looking for a great cigar in a clean relaxing atmosphere, stop in at Jersey Smokes. Our gigantic selection and reasonable prices are sure to please any cigar lover. Our state of the art LakeAir air purifiers help create the perfect atmosphere to enjoy your cigar in comfort.
(6) LA2-RC2-HOC Smoke Eaters
3.0 Carbon Filter Odor Control
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
- 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
Interactive Map of Great LakeAir Smoking Venues
We have created this map to allow you to take a look at some of our great customers who operate smoking venues. There isn’t enough room on the map to show all of our customers. Each icon map represents one of our customers. The map icons were created to give a little insight about the area these fine shops serve. Clicking on the icon will bring up a lightbox containing information about each shop.
