{"id":22198,"date":"2024-10-23T17:48:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T09:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/?p=22198"},"modified":"2024-10-23T17:49:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T09:49:13","slug":"corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-air-purifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-air-purifier\/","title":{"rendered":"Corsi Rosenthal Box DIY Air Purifier: Running Costs, CADR, Noise, Efficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Can air purifiers be made from just a fan, furnace filters, and duct tape? Introducing the Corsi-Rosenthal Box (CR Box) DIY air purifier. This is an effective, budget-friendly air purifier that you can put together with low cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Smart Air, we&#8217;ve been creating, testing, and instructing people on DIY air purifiers for a long time. However, similar to the original Smart Air DIY purifier, the Corsi-Rosenthal box has its advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss four key points about the CR Box.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/3TQvp4zUtyInXm9pwR0kjIJlPCR0F4HIta9fcfQLVJdkmIuwlARIBLjkfkPg1zpoQXsebEJ0dAGrv8TMTYMxzikn86dPa3R-nBZxIEtHn4BJnNuWRakyxdIPLdYIHi59Oybzk6GMSF0U3m6STg\" alt=\"Corsi-Rosenthal Box: Four Things to Know\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The Corsi Rosenthal Box is a Powerful Air Purifier, with High CADR and Low Upfront Costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/energy.ucdavis.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Study_DIY-Portable-Air-Cleaners-083121.pdf\">Tests<\/a> show a $75 Corsi-Rosenthal box can achieve a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of around 165-239 CFM. In some cases, tests have even shown a DIY CR box reaching a CADR of 850 CFM. This makes the CR box air purifier one of the most economical options available in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/energy.ucdavis.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Study_DIY-Portable-Air-Cleaners-083121.pdf\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1302\" height=\"192\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22209\" style=\"width:900px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM.png 1302w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM-600x88.png 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM-1024x151.png 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM-300x44.png 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-16-at-2.48.45-PM-768x113.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1302px) 100vw, 1302px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/energy.ucdavis.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Study_DIY-Portable-Air-Cleaners-083121.pdf\">UC Davis Case Study of the Corsi Rosenthal Box<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Corsi Rosenthal Box is Less Efficient at Removing Virus Droplets from the Air<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One drawback is that CR boxes use MERV 13 filters, which trap a smaller percentage of virus-sized particles in one go compared to HEPA filters. MERV 13 filters catch roughly 85% of COVID-19 droplets, whereas HEPA filters often capture over 99.95%. Nevertheless, because the CR box circulates so much air, it manages to trap a significant number of these particles on subsequent passes. This clarifies how it outperformed <a href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/diy-air-purifier-effectiveness\/\">IQAir<\/a>, which had filters with much higher ratings, in a direct comparison test.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merv13.jpeg\" alt=\"Corsi-Rosenthal Box Merv 13 Filters\" class=\"wp-image-22204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merv13.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merv13-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/merv13-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Possible Higher Running Costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the primary reasons people turn to the Corsi-Rosenthal Box is the low up-front cost. In almost all cases, they are cheaper than buying an off-the-shelf air purifier that is equally strong. In fact, Smart Air designed its <a href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/blog\/how-to-make-diy-air-purifier\/\">own DIY air purifiers<\/a> back in 2013 for the exact same reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/energy.ucdavis.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Study_DIY-Portable-Air-Cleaners-083121.pdf\">UC Davis estimate<\/a> of the CR Box energy efficiency of 2.17-2.19 CADR\/watt ranks last compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/ecocostsavings.com\/box-fan-wattage\/\">23 popular air purifiers<\/a>. Results vary significantly between studies though, with <a href=\"https:\/\/energy.ucdavis.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Case-Study_DIY-Portable-Air-Cleaners-083121.pdf\">one study<\/a> showing significantly better efficiency. Using a <a href=\"https:\/\/ecocostsavings.com\/box-fan-wattage\/\">more efficient box fan<\/a> may help lower energy costs. <a href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/hidden-energy-costs-of-air-purifiers\/\">Energy usage of an air purifier<\/a> is an important factor that should be considered when calculating the cost of operating an air purifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/hidden-energy-costs-of-air-purifiers\/\">The Hidden Cost of Air Purifiers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Data<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1pjr4c445-3t3ekdMHLGupXk1wyfkRLu4\/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=112158651597103826208&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true\">Long-term cost analysis data for the Corsi-Rosenthal Box<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Corsi-Rosenthal Box: Cost Analysis\" class=\"wp-image-22212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/in-the-short-term-g7dd7dc12a_1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. The Corsi-Rosenthal Box may be too Noisy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2022.01.09.22268972v1.full\">Tests<\/a> showed the Corsi-Rosenthal Box can be noisy&#8211;with some models reaching 67 decibels on the high setting. Any level of noise over 60 decibels is likely too noisy for most settings, such as schools and offices. Classrooms tend to be around <a href=\"https:\/\/decibelpro.app\/blog\/decibel-level-of-noise-in-classroom\/\">45-50 decibels<\/a>, so 60 decibels would overpower a class. Running the CR Box at lower speeds will lower noise but also reduce the amount of air it cleans.&nbsp;Big fans and large HEPA filters are what can keep purifier noise down, like those in the <a href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/shop\/\">Blast air purifiers<\/a> Smart Air has designed.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise.png\" alt=\"Corsi-Rosenthal Box: Noise Levels\" class=\"wp-image-22211\" style=\"width:auto;height:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise.png 1280w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/noise-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<p><div class='bottom-line'><div class='bottom-line-top'>Bottom Line<\/div><div class='bottom-line-title'>Bottom Line: Pros and Cons of the Corsi-Rosenthal Box DIY Air Purifier&lt;span&gt;<\/div><div class='bottom-line-content'><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>* Lower upfront costs<br \/>\n* High cost-effectiveness ratio<br \/>\n* Fun, science-backed DIY project for school kids<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cons: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>* Can be noisy on high<br \/>\n* Low small-particle filtration efficiency rates (when using MERV)<br \/>\n* Energy costs may be higher compared to some air purifiers on market<br \/>\n<span>  <\/div><div class='bottom-line-last'>Smart Air<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can air purifiers be made from just a fan, furnace filters, and duct tape? Introducing the Corsi-Rosenthal Box (CR Box) DIY air purifier. This is an effective, budget-friendly air purifier that you can put together with low cost. At Smart Air, we&#8217;ve been creating, testing, and instructing people on DIY &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Corsi Rosenthal Box DIY Air Purifier: Running Costs, CADR, Noise, Efficiency\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/corsi-rosenthal-box-diy-air-purifier\/#more-22198\" aria-label=\"Read more about Corsi Rosenthal Box DIY Air Purifier: Running Costs, CADR, Noise, Efficiency\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9087,"featured_media":34120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"21045,802,20657,345,11976,19755","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,190,262],"tags":[283,256],"class_list":["post-22198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-pollution","category-air-purifiers","category-reviews","tag-air-purifier","tag-diy","resize-featured-image"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9087"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22198"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34376,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22198\/revisions\/34376"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}