DIY Air Purifier Hack Goes Viral as East Coast Residents Battle Wildfire Smoke

As the East Coast battles the pervasive smoke from wildfires, a do-it-yourself (DIY) air purifier hack has gone viral, capturing the attention of social media users seeking ways to protect themselves indoors, according to a report by AP.

With a box fan, four air filters, and a generous amount of duct tape, individuals are sharing their creations on platforms like TikTok and Facebook, demonstrating how to construct the Corsi-Rosenthal method, a technique that has gained popularity in recent years amid the pandemic and widespread wildfires in the western United States.

Discovering the Box Fan Method for the First Time

Unlike their West Coast counterparts, who have become accustomed to dealing with wildfire smoke, some East Coast residents are discovering the box fan method for the first time.

Seattle resident Angel Robertson took to TikTok to showcase her DIY air purifier, which garnered over 600,000 views. In her video, Robertson ingeniously assembles four 20-by-20 air filters into a box shape, securing them with duct tape and placing the fan on top.

The cost of the entire setup is under $100, making it an affordable option for many.

Experts in public health attest to the effectiveness of Corsi-Rosenthal purifiers in removing airborne particles. Petri Kalliomäki, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland's School of Public Health, highlights their high clean air delivery rate, which aids in purifying not only smoke but also pollen and viruses.

Social media proved instrumental in the development of this DIY hack, with Richard Corsi, the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis, and co-creator of the box, revealing that he shared the design on Twitter in 2020 after sketching it one evening.

Affordable Air Purifier

Jim Rosenthal, the CEO of Tex-Air Filters, stumbled upon the design and transformed it into a reality. Corsi's objective was to design an affordable air purifier that would be accessible to the average American. Presently, he receives messages from friends in the Northeast who have embraced his concept.

"When you have to seal up a building and reduce the amount of airflow coming in and when you have to spend a lot of time indoors, this is where portable air cleaners can really make a difference in your life," Corsi said in a statement.

Individuals like Grace Turner, who resides in Rochester, New York, learned about the box fan purifier while living in Salt Lake City. She built her own version and shared it on TikTok, explaining how it has improved the air quality in her home.

DIY instructions for various designs are readily available online, making it accessible for anyone interested in constructing their own air purifier.