Air Filter Myths About Odour Removal in Open-Plan Homes

Open-plan living can make a home feel larger and brighter, but it can also make odours travel quickly from the kitchen, lounge and dining areas into the rest of the space. A common misconception is that any air filter will fix smells on its own. In reality, particle filters, carbon media and good ventilation each play a different role, and the right setup depends on what you are trying to control.

Why odours spread so easily in open-plan homes

When walls and doors are replaced by one shared living area, cooking fumes, pet odours and household chemicals do not stay put for long. Air moves with everyday activity, air conditioning, ceiling fans and pressure differences between rooms, so odour problems can seem worse even when the source is small.

That does not mean a filter is useless. It does mean you need to match the filter type to the problem. If the issue is grease, dust, lint or smoke particles, a particle filter can help capture those airborne solids. If the issue is an odour from gases or vapours, a standard particle filter on its own is not designed to remove it.

For property managers, this distinction matters when tenants report “smell” problems in shared living spaces. For homeowners, it helps avoid spending money on the wrong product and expecting a result that the filter was never meant to deliver.

What particle filters can do with cooking smells

Cooking produces a mix of particles and gases. Frying, roasting and high-heat cooking can release fine airborne particles, while spices, oils and food vapours contribute to the smell that lingers.

A particle filter can capture some of the airborne material linked to cooking, especially grease-laden particles and general dust that can carry odour. That can help keep ducts, return grilles and recirculating systems cleaner. It may also reduce visible haze in the air after heavy cooking.

What it will not do is remove the gaseous part of the smell on its own. If the kitchen odour is coming from vapours rather than particles, you may need:

• •Better exhaust extraction over the cooking area
• •Fresh air movement through windows or mechanical ventilation
• •Activated carbon or another odour-control media designed for gases
• •Regular cleaning of rangehood filters, grilles and nearby surfaces

If you are unsure whether your system uses a particle filter only or also includes carbon media, check our products or speak with a specialist.

A practical example

If the smell of onion, garlic or fried food drifts through an open lounge, changing the particle filter alone may improve airflow and particle capture, but it is unlikely to remove the whole odour complaint. In many homes, the best fix is a combination of source capture at the cooktop and properly selected filtration in the return air path.

Pet odours: what to expect from the filter

Pet odours in open-plan homes often come from a mix of fur, dander, bedding, litter areas, carpet fibres and the odour compounds themselves. Particle filters can capture hair, dust and dander particles carried in the air, which helps keep recirculated air cleaner.

However, the smell associated with pets is not just a particle issue. If the odour source is in the room, a filter cannot replace cleaning, laundering, grooming or moisture control. It also will not remove odour that is already embedded in soft furnishings, carpet or wall surfaces.

A sensible approach is to combine filtration with the basics:

• •Vacuum and clean soft furnishings regularly
• •Wash pet bedding and nearby covers as needed
• •Improve cross-ventilation where practical
• •Keep litter trays and feeding areas away from main air paths
• •Use a filter suited to the system’s airflow and dust load

Some filters are designed to be washable - check the product instructions before cleaning or reusing them. If you are managing a building with mixed-use or pet-friendly tenancies, filter servicing can help keep systems operating as intended.

Household VOCs and why standard filters are not enough

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases released by many household products. They can come from paint, adhesive, new furniture, cleaning products, air fresheners and some finishes. In an open-plan home, these odours can travel quickly and hang around in shared spaces.

A standard particle filter is not designed to capture gases in any meaningful way. It may catch dust or mist droplets that accompany some products, but it will not remove the gaseous compounds themselves.

If VOC control is the goal, look at:

• •Source control by choosing lower-emission products where possible
• •Ventilation to dilute and remove the air
• •Activated carbon or other gas-phase media specified for the contaminant type
• •Careful system design so airflow does not simply spread the odour around the home

For larger buildings or apartment common areas, AS 1668.2:2024 is often relevant to ventilation design. Site requirements should be confirmed with the mechanical services engineer or building owner, especially where kitchen exhaust, make-up air or common ventilation systems are involved.

Picking the right filter for an open-plan layout

The best filter depends on whether you are dealing with particles, odours, or both. In many homes, a single product will not solve every issue, so it helps to separate the problem before buying.

Look at the system first:

• •Is the filter for a ducted return air system, a portable unit or a kitchen exhaust application?
• •Does the system have room for a deeper media filter or carbon stage?
• •Are you trying to capture dust and smoke particles, or reduce smells from gases and vapours?
• •Is there enough airflow for the chosen filter without overloading the fan?

If you need a replacement that matches an existing frame or housing, how to measure an air filter is a good place to start. If the size is non-standard, custom air filters may be the better option.

Ratings and standards: useful, but not a shortcut

Filter ratings can help compare particle capture performance, but they do not mean every product will address odours in the same way. MERV, EN 779 and ISO 16890 ratings do not convert directly, so avoid assuming that one class is an exact substitute for another.

If you are comparing high-efficiency particle filters, HEPA ratings are defined under EN 1822. H13 is at least 99.95% efficient and H14 is at least 99.995% efficient at the most penetrating particle size, but those figures relate to particle capture, not blanket odour removal.

When to inspect or replace a filter

A filter that is loaded with dust, grease or other debris will restrict airflow and may reduce performance. Inspection frequency depends on the system, site conditions and dust load, so it is best to follow the filter and equipment manufacturer instructions rather than relying on a fixed calendar.

Where pressure gauges or monitoring are fitted, check pressure drop and use that reading to help decide when servicing is needed. This is especially important in open-plan homes with pets, frequent cooking or renovations nearby, and in commercial or strata properties where a system can become loaded more quickly than expected.

If a filter is difficult to access or the system is part of a larger installation, commercial filter servicing may be the practical way to stay on top of maintenance.

The simple takeaway for homeowners and property managers

Particle filters are good at capturing particles. They can help with dust, smoke particles, fur and some cooking residue in the air. But they are not a universal odour fix, and they cannot replace source control, ventilation or gas-phase media when the issue is cooking smells, pet odours or VOCs.

For open-plan homes, the best result usually comes from matching the filtration to the problem rather than assuming one product does everything. If you need help selecting the right size, media type or replacement filter for a home or building, Total Air Filtration, a family-owned air filter manufacturer and supplier in Hillcrest, Brisbane QLD, can help supply or make the right filters. Call 07 3800 3448 or request a quote.