Both devices filter airborne dust, but they solve different problems. Knowing which to deploy—and where—decides whether you actually control exposure or just move air.

Air cleaners: recirculate and polish

• Function: draw room air through filters and return it to the same space. Best for reducing background dust and supplementing on-tool capture.
• Use cases: occupied refurb areas, joinery shops, or overnight “polishing” of air.
• Notes: choose H13/H14 final filtration for fine dusts; verify airflow under load and position to promote mixing without creating drafts across workfaces.

Air scrubbers: contain and direct

• Function: connect ducting to exhaust cleaned air outside or into a safe zone, creating negative pressure in a work area.
• Use cases: high-dust tasks indoors, small rooms, or where you need directional flow from “clean” to “dirty”.
• Notes: seal gaps, use make-up air paths, and monitor pressure to maintain capture. Units such as MAXVAC air scrubbers can be configured for recirculation or negative air when ducted.

Choosing between them

• Ask: do I need containment and airflow direction (scrubber), or background reduction (cleaner)?
• Check filter class against the hazard—use H14 for respirable silica and similar risks.
• Plan placement: avoid pulling across workers; extract from the contaminated end and supply clean air from behind workers.

Practical takeaways

• Use air cleaners to lower background dust; use air scrubbers to create negative pressure and control movement.
• Specify filter class and verify airflow under load, not free-air.
• Seal, duct and pressure-check whenever containment matters.

Pair either device with strong capture at source and disciplined housekeeping to stop settled dust becoming tomorrow’s exposure.