Should You NOT Buy a NovusAer Filter?
- Thomas Dearden
- Aug 5, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 8, 2025
Response by Dan Dearden, CAFS – Certified Air Filtration Specialist, Essential Air Products Founder, NovusAer Inventor
The Honest Pros and Cons—Straight from the Inventor
At NovusAer, we’re not in the business of hype—we’re in the business of solving a specific problem: how to capture harmful airborne particles in your home’s air without choking the airflow through your HVAC system.
That’s what I designed the NovusAer filter to do—and it does it exceptionally well.
But here’s the truth: It’s not for everyone.
So let me give it to you straight—here are the reasons why you might not want to buy a NovusAer filter.
🚫 If You’re Trying to Get Rid of Odors
The NovusAer doesn’t neutralize odors. If your home smells funky, the first step is to find and eliminate the source.
Activated carbon filters are the go-to for odor control—but only the heavy-duty ones filled with carbon pellets, not the thin coatings found on many “odor-reducing” filters. Real carbon filters require their own blower system because they’re too restrictive for standard residential HVAC units.
Bottom line: The NovusAer is a particle filter, not an odor filter.
🚫 If You're Worried About VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
VOCs are nasty little compounds that can off-gas from furniture, paint, cleaners, and building materials—and some of them are toxic.
But here’s the thing: they’re molecular in size—way too small for any particle filter to catch, including the NovusAer.
Want to get rid of VOCs?
Eliminate the source
Ventilate your home using a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
Carbon pellet filters can also help with certain VOC’s, though they require special setups
🚫 If You’re Worried About Germs on Surfaces
The NovusAer does filter out airborne viruses and bacteria—including particles down to the size of the coronavirus.
But once germs settle on your counters, doorknobs, or remotes? Filters won’t help.
Your best defense: keep surfaces clean. Studies show most viruses die within 90 minutes on clean, dry surfaces without a food source.
⚠️ About Those "Air Purifier" Claims…
You may have heard of devices that use hydroxyl radical technology or photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) to “kill 99% of bacteria and viruses.”
In reality?
Lab tests show 20–25% kill rates—not 99%
No studies show they work in real-world home environments
Some units even create harmful byproducts, including VOCs
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) confirmed these findings
So be cautious. Just because something sounds high-tech doesn’t mean it’s effective—or safe.
🚫 If You’re Concerned About CO₂ or Carbon Monoxide (CO)
The NovusAer filter can’t remove gases like CO₂ or CO. These are too small to be captured by any air filter.
CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is produced by people, pets, and combustion. Too much can cause fatigue and headaches. Best solution? Ventilate.
CO (carbon monoxide) is a toxic gas. If you have any in your home, that’s a serious issue—eliminate it at the source immediately.
🚫 If You're Trying to Control Humidity
Humidity is water vapor—H₂O molecules—which pass right through air filters, including the NovusAer.
Too humid? Use an HRV (in dry climates) or a dehumidifier (in humid climates)
Too dry? A whole-home humidifier can make a big difference
The NovusAer doesn’t raise or lower humidity—it’s simply not what it’s built for.
🚫 If You’re Not Concerned About PM2.5 Air Pollution
PM2.5 particles are tiny, dangerous particles linked to asthma, heart disease, and other health issues. If you’re not worried about breathing those in, you probably don’t need a high-performance air filter.
A standard MERV 13 filter will protect your HVAC system from dust and dirt just fine.
But if you do care about the air you breathe, this is where the NovusAer shines—it captures PM2.5 particles without choking your airflow.
🚫 If You Don’t Care About Airflow Efficiency
Most homeowners don’t realize how much a 1-inch pleated filter can restrict airflow in their HVAC system. This reduces capacity, efficiency, increases wear and tear, and may even make your home less comfortable.
The NovusAer has low resistance, so your system works better. But it’s not the only one.
There are other high-quality, MERV 13+ filters that also have good airflow—often for less upfront cost. Some examples:
Lennox Healthy Climate Carbon 16
Aprilaire 2216
Honeywell F200
A Quick Note About "100% Filtration"
No HVAC system can filter all the air in your home—unless it’s specifically designed with a depressurization duct. I explain this in detail in my article, “Achieving Truly Effective Air Filtration in Residential Applications” (published in NAFA Air Media Magazine).
✅ So… Who Should Buy a NovusAer Filter?
If you want an air filter that:
Captures dangerous particles (including PM2.5)
Reduces strain on your HVAC system
Improves airflow and system efficiency
Lasts longer than most filters
Then the NovusAer is for you.
If you need odor control, VOC reduction, gas filtration, or humidity adjustments—you’ll need a different tool for that job.
At the end of the day, I didn’t build NovusAer to do everything. I built it to do one thing extremely well: Help you breathe cleaner air—without compromising your HVAC system.
—Dan DeardenFounder, NovusAer
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