What are VOC's. The EPA has good information to answer that question. What the EPA doesn't do well is tell the public on how to get rid of VOC's.
So you're now following all of the EPA suggestions on how to limit or prevent a VOC problem from affecting your indoor air quality and you're looking for an air purifier to take you to the next level of clean air. HEPA technology won't help with VOC's. They pass right through HEPA filters. What about air cleaners with Carbon? Yes, Carbon can absorb VOC's that pass through the air cleaner and is one of the many weapons in the arsenal to use against VOC's, but alone will not address serious VOC issues unless you put a machine in every room of your residence and change the filter often. (Would cost $1000's a year). Here are our recommendations for addressing VOC issues affecting your indoor air quality:
1) Ozone shock treatments. Utilizing our 3600 to 7200 mg/h commercial ozone generators in an unoccupied residence with VOC issues is highly effective. Once the ozone reverts back to oxygen (within 30 minutes) most if not all of the VOC's in the air will cease to exist. If the source of the VOC production (carpets, new construction glues, etc) is still producing VOC's, you'll have to repeat the shock treatments. One way to do this is to shock the residence during the day when nobody is home on a daily basis. You'll come home to oxygen rich, VOC free air every night and keep VOC's from building up while you're at work. Once you get home, you'll need to rely on the other VOC weapons in your arsenal.
2) Heavy Carbon air purifiers. Air purifiers that contain over 26 lbs of carbon are the weapon of choice to deal with VOC issues while in an occupied room. Our recommendation for best VOC removal air purifier is the Airpura V600. It is made specifically to address VOC issues.
VOC's pose the most serious health threat (behind toxic mold and second hand smoke) to indoor air quality. Our homes are built air tight and the combination of lack of ventilation and increased number of off-gassing VOC producing materials and products has created this situation. Relief however is available with these VOC removal air purifier technologies.