IQAir GC MultiGas Review

Pros

• Ideal for removing odors like tobacco smoke, pet smells, or musty odors
• Exceptional air cleaning performance with PM2.5 reduced to 0.1, PM10 to .2, and AQI to 1 in one hour.
• Large coverage area with the GC MultiGas suitable for rooms up to 1,125 sq. ft.

Cons

• Large size and weight make it not great to place on counters or tables
• No auto or sleep mode; the closest feature to these are programmable hours of operation.

Scoring

In This Review

Purification | Filters | Wind Speed | Ozone | Noise | Usability | Size | Specs | Summary

Purification Testing Performance

To test the IQAir GC MultiGas, we set up the air purifier in a medium-sized room in our office. Before starting the test, I took a baseline measurement to measure the current air quality. Then, I let the GC MultiGas run on the highest setting for 1 hour and then measured the air quality to get another set of measurements.

To determine the performance of the IQAir GC MultiGas we compare the difference between the starting baseline and the post-run data.

Our data shows that the GC MultiGas was able to remove the vast majority of airborne particulates. To have a PM2.5 reading of 0.1 is exceptional.

In general, we are wanting to see the four above measurements reach as close to 0 as possible. These readings are among those we’ve seen.

On average, based on all air purifiers tested to date, we see a PM2.5 of 0.47 and a PM10 of 0.70. Therefore, the GC MultiGas was significantly more effective at reducing airborne particulates than many purifiers we’ve tested.

Airborne particulates in the air were reduced from 1,779 to just 10 and AQI was reduced to 1 from 70. Again, compared to the average performance, the GC MultiGas is significantly better than the average.

We use a professional air quality detector, the Temtop LKC-1000S+, to take a baseline measurement of the current air quality. 

Below, we’ve included information on the testing criteria and what defines good vs. bad air quality.

The Filters

There are two main sections to the filters on the IQAir GC MultiGas – The HyperHEPA pre-filter, and the GC MultiGas Cartridges. 

To access the filters you will need to remove the blue siding that holds the 5 center blocks in place. 

The pre-filter is located 4th from the top and is there to catch coarse, fine, and ultra-fine dust and hair particles that could otherwise harm the other filters.

The 4 GC MultiGas Cartridges are located in the top two sections. Their purpose is to control a wide range of specific chemical substances and odors. The activated carbon element previously mentioned is a part of the gas cartridges. 

These cartridges also have sleeves called the GC Post-Filter Sleeve Set that fit over them. Their purpose is to control fine & ultra fine particulate matter that makes it past the other filters.

Wind Speed Tests

To test the wind speed of the IQAir GC MultiGas, we run the air purifier on minimum and maximum fan speed. We use a tool called an “anemometer” to measure the wind speed.

Here’s what we found on the MultiGas:

Ozone Test

We also look into whether or not these air purifiers emit any dangerous levels of ozone. For the IQAir GC MultiGas, nothing in the design or specs lead us to believe any would be found.

To perform our ozone tests, we use an electronic ozone meter. We take measurements before and after the 1 hour testing period and then compare the results.

As expected, no ozone was found to be emitted from the GC MultiGas.

Noise Test

To measure the noise levels of the IQAir GC MultiGas, we use a sound meter app. We set the air purifier up, run it on each power setting, and measure the generated noise from about 3’ away. 

Our results showed the following decibel levels from each mode.

We found the noise levels on the IQAir GC MultiGas to be a bit higher than average, but not dramatically so.

Its lowest setting could still be used during bedtime without much risk of disturbing one’s sleep.

Its highest setting could be compared to a quiet office environment. This makes the top-end noise of the MultiGas quite reasonable given the size of spaces it is intended for.

Common noise levels:

• 20 dB – rustling leaves
• 30 dB – whisper
• 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
• 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
• 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
• 70 dB – traffic, showers
• 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone

Usability Tests

We found the usability of the IQAir GC MultiGas to be excellent. There is more complexity in the MultiGas than many of the other air purifiers we’ve tested, but we found it more than reasonable given its features and performance. 

While the air purifier is large and not suitable for most countertops or tables, the wheels you install make the MultiGas highly maneuverable. These are not cheap wheels; they make moving the air purifier easy.

Setup

The setup takes a few steps, but they are straightforward. 

Here’s what comes in the box:

• GC MultiGas
• Pre-filter (pre-installed)
• Gas filters (x4) (in separate packaging)
• Sleeves (x4) (in separate packaging)
• Wheel mounting brackets (2x)
• Wheels (4x)
• Remote (batteries included)
• Power cord
• Manuals
• Certification letter

To start, it would be useful to connect the wheel brackets to the bottom of the air purifier. There are obvious groves and indents to mark how they fit and they should just snap into place. 

Once the wheel mounts are added, you can push the wheels into place at each corner.

Next, you will need to open the purifier to access the housing for the filters. The HyperHEPA pre-filter is located at the bottom and is already set up. 

The blue plastic sides act as claps that contain the 5 square cabins of the purifier. To open, you only need to pull the tops away from the center until they snap into place a few inches from the rest of the device. 

By removing the top cover, you can access the two top cabins for the gas cartridges. You will notice 4 metal circular frames to indicate where they should fit. 

Before placing them in the air purifier, make sure to slide a cloth sleeve over each one. They fit pretty tight against the filters, but they were still fairly easy to install. 

Note – These cartridges contain 12 pounds of carbon. It can fall out when installing the sleeves, so be aware and careful during installation.

Controls & App

While there is no app connectivity on the GC MultiGas, the built-in console and display screen are extensive. 

There are four buttons to control the display screen that include:

• Power On and standby
• Up Arrow
• Menu
• Enter

We found these buttons are more than adequate to operate and navigate the settings on the IQAir GC MultiGas

These menus give you access to:

• Power
• Day of the week programming
• Filter life shown in hours
• Set fan speed while timer is on
• Current speed and airflow in cfm
• Adjust day & time
• Adjust the CFMs
• Change displayed language
• Check model

Next to this display screen, there is a diagram of the air purifier separating the sections in the different filters. They each come with a light to indicate the health of the filter. 

Although, these indicator lights are only lit if the air purifier is actively running.

The remote can adjust the fan speed to a specific setting, turn on/off the air purifier, and turn on/off a timer. It has less control than the on-board buttons, but still enough to do what you need to.

Maintenance

Maintenance is a little more complicated for the GC MultiGas. There are 3 parts to replace within the filtration system. The HyperHEPA pre-filter, the GC MultiGas cartridges, and the sleeves that go around the cartridges.

IQAir recommends replacing the HyperHEPA pre-filter after 1 year. The Gas cartridges they recommend replacing after 2 years and 5 months, and the gas cartridge sleeves after 2 years and 4 months. 

With those last two being so close together, it’s reasonable to say that this air purifier has 2 replacement windows to keep track of – 1 year and 2 years 5 months.

But you won’t have to keep track of these manually, as the GC MultiGas has indicators on the display screen showing the approximate percentage of life the filter has left displayed in hours.

When you start getting close to the final hours, the exact count of hours will appear on the screen. When you go past its replacement recommendation it will start counting up the number of hours since it should have been replaced.

These numbers are based on usage, not just time since last replaced.

Size & Dimensions

As for size, the IQAir GC MultiGas is larger than your standard air purifier. It also covers a much larger area. IQ claims it can cover an area of 1,125 sq. ft. with a CADR of 300 CFM. This should be sufficient to cover any room in most homes, if not the entire home. 

Here are the exact dimensions of the IQAir GC MultiGas:

• Length – 16″
• Width – 15”
• Height – 28”
• Weight – 44 lbs.

The height here includes the wheels, which are optional to install upon set-up. Due to the 44 lbs and overall size of the air purifier, I would highly recommend installing them to make it easier to maneuver. 

IQAir MultiGas vs. HealthPro vs. HealthPro HealthPro Plus

IQAir makes 5 different models of air purifiers. Below we compare the HealthPro, Healthpro Plus, and the GC MultiGas.

	GC MultiGas	HealthPro	HealthPro Plus
Width	15"	15"	15"
Length	16"	16"	16"
Height	28"	28"	28"
Weight	44 lbs.	29 lbs.	35 lbs.
Filters	HEPA , Gas Cartridges, Carbon	HEPA	HEPA, Carbon
Coverage Area	1125 sq. ft.	1240 sq. ft.	1125 sq. ft.
CADR	300 CFM	330CFM	300 CFM
Upgradable Filter	No	Included	Included
Wifi Compatible	No	No	No
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

The standard Healthpro has some slight spec advantages in coverage area and CADR. However, it is limited by its filters in what it can clean.

Chief among the limitations of the HealthPro series are tobacco smoke, chemicals, and odors. The HealthPro Plus has a V5 Cell filter with carbon to tackle these areas, but not as effectively as the MultiGas can.

You can see from the above table that the MultiGas is the heaviest model by a wide margin. This is mostly due to the extra carbon used in the filters. Between the carbon and the gas cartridges, the MultiGas can tackle a wide range of chemical substances and odors that the HealthPro models cannot.

Specifications

Specifications
Manufacturer	IQAir
Model	GC MultiGas
Width	15″
Height	28″
Weight	44 lbs.
Filters	Carbon, HyperHEPA, Chemosorption
Wifi Compatible	No
Room Coverage	1125 sq. ft.
CADR	300 cfm
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	10 year
Price	Check Price

Should you buy the IQAir GC MultiGas?

I would recommend the IQAir GC MultiGas if you’re looking for the following features:

• Powerful odor fighting: The MultiGas distinguishes itself from other IQAir models with its focus on odors and smells. For those struggling with tobacco smoke, mold spores, lingering cooking odors, pet smells, etc, this air purifier is the best IQAir to combat these issues. Especially those with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), should consider this air purifier.
• Large room coverage: The large size of the MultiGas is justified by its massive cleaning coverage. It is effective for rooms up to 1,125 sq. ft. or even entire units/houses.
• Useful programmable settings: Unlike many other air purifiers, the MultiGas does not have a basic sleep mode or auto mode. This is because it offers much more nuanced timing and performance settings. Instead, you can program which days of the week and what time of day should receive which fan speed. 

For more information or to buy the IQAir GC MultiGas, click here.