The office air purifier is quiet only from the desk that requested it

A large air purifier appeared between two desks. From the manager's office, it sounded like a soft fan. From my chair beside the exhaust, it sounded like steady wind.

The coworker who requested it needed it near her desk. I did not want the answer to be turning it off.

We moved it three feet and rotated the exhaust toward the aisle. She kept the machine nearby, and the noise at my chair dropped.

The purifier had not been too loud for the office. It had been too loud from one exact seat.