Sneezing, coughing, trouble breathing, and watery eyes are all effects that allergy sufferers or those with a pet allergy may experience. If the quality of the air in your home is poor, these symptoms can be more exasperated. The good news is air purifiers help to improve the air quality in your home so that you can enjoy better lung function and fewer respiratory symptoms. To find the best air purifier for allergies, it is essential to understand how they work and which types can help with pollutants that affect you.
Humidifiers Vs Air Purifiers For Allergies
The air quality in your home can be affected for several reasons. The two primary reasons are the airborne pollutants in your home and the humidity levels. High levels of allergens and improper humidity levels can both lead to increased respiratory issues and make the air more difficult to breathe. Are you unsure whether air purifiers for allergies or humidifiers will help improve your issues? The answer will depend on the symptoms you are suffering from.
- Dryness: If you have cracked and dry skin or wake up with a scratchy nose or throat, you will need a humidifier to improve your symptoms. A humidifier should keep your relative humidity around 40 to 60 percent for optimal breathing.
- Allergies: If you have problems with allergens in your home, then an air purifier can help improve your symptoms. A wide range of air purifiers can remove pet dander, dust, smoke, odor, and VOCs.
- Asthma: In the case of asthma, you may want both a humidifier and an air purifier. Humidifiers can ease asthma symptoms as long as they are kept at appropriate levels. Air purifiers can remove dust, pollen, and pet dander, which trigger asthma symptoms. A dehumidifier may be helpful in the summer months as well.
Can I Use Both Air Purifiers For Allergies and a Humidifier Together?
Air purifiers and humidifiers perform two separate tasks. One removes pollutants from the air, and the other helps to maintain the proper moisture levels in the air. They are often used in combination to improve the indoor air quality of the home during the winter when the air in your home is typically dry.
The Best Air Purifiers For Allergies
When you suffer from allergy symptoms, choosing the right air purifier is vital. There are several options when air purifiers for allergies, and the right one for your home will likely have to do with the pollutants you most want to remove.
HEPA
High-efficiency particulate air purifiers or true HEPA filters are a type of air cleaner that can filter out 99.97% of pollutants 0.3 microns. They have even greater efficiency when it comes to larger airborne particles. HEPA air purifiers are popular for their ability to filter out even tiny particulates. They are often combined with a UV prefilter to destroy bacteria and viruses.
Adsorbent
Adsorbent purifiers are great options to control odors, smoke, and volatile organic compounds in the home. These purifiers use a type of filter with adsorbent material, such as a carbon filter or electrostatic one, that draws pollutants to them through either a physical or chemical process. These types of purifiers will often be paired with a filter, such as a HEPA filter, to remove large pollutants such as dust and pollen.
UV Purifiers
UV purifiers are designed to destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms from the air in your home. When a UV air purifier takes the air in, it will expose it to a UV lamp which will break down the chemical bonds of the contaminant. While UV purifiers can work well independently, they are often paired with a HEPA filtration system so that particulates, bacteria, and viruses will all be filtered out in one machine.
Ionic
Ionic purifiers are a filterless alternative to more traditional air purifier options. Ionizers typically produce negative ions, which attach themselves to particulates floating throughout the system. While the particles are not removed, once ionized, they will quickly settle onto the surfaces around your home, where you can wipe them off. While they benefit from no filter replacement, these systems do not remove pollutants as effectively as other options. Additionally, these systems are not as commonly used anymore as they can produce ozone, which makes the EPA advise against them.
Five Ways to Reduce Your Indoor Allergens
While air purifiers for allergies are the ideal way to , there are other things to stay on top of to ensure that you maintain good indoor air quality and reduce the allergens in your home. Some of the best ways to reduce allergy triggers include:
#1. Replacing Filters
Your HVAC system is not only designed to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, but it also works to clean the air through its filter. While traditional HVAC filters will not clean the air as much as a purifier, they can help to trap dust, pet dander, pet hair, and other allergens and prevent them from recirculating in the air, as long as they are properly maintained. You will need to change your air filter at least every 90 days to ensure that it will keep the proper airflow and trap pollutants properly.
#2. Changing Bedding
A prevalent indoor allergen is dust mites, which lurk on your pillows, sheets, mattresses, comforters, upholstery, and carpeting. Without proper cleaning, a build-up of dust mites can increase asthma and allergy symptoms, making it more difficult to sleep. You should consider using allergen-proof covers for your pillows and mattresses, and be sure to launder all your bedding at least once a week.
#3. Keeping Your House Clean
Dust mites, pet dander, pet hair, pollen, and other allergens will settle around your carpet, your floors, and your furniture. Properly cleaning your house can help remove many of these allergens and prevent them from recirculating through the air in your home. To ensure proper removal, you should consider vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter and dusting with a microfiber cloth, so dust is removed and not pushed back into the room.
#4. Avoiding Pet Dander
You love your pets and likely share much of your indoor living space with them. One of the biggest allergy triggers for many people, unfortunately, is pet dander, which can make cohabitating with your furry friends seem uncomfortable. The good news is you can help reduce the pet allergens in your home by having your pet regularly bathed and groomed and by washing their bedding at least once a week. More frequent vacuuming is also suggested when you have pets in the home.
#5. Keeping Air Moist
You can add a humidifier to your home to reduce the amount of dryness. During the winter months, when the air is dry from your heating system, adding moisture to the air can help to improve allergy symptoms. It is advisable to have a humidity monitor to maintain an ideal humidity level to prevent the growth of mold spores and mildew growth.
How Well Does a Furnace Filter Work to Remove Allergens?
Air filters in your furnace work well to remove pollutants that circulate through the air in your home. The more contaminants removed from your home, the less likely you will suffer from allergy issues. Unfortunately, filters in your furnace are primarily efficient at removing particulates from the air but do little to remove debris that has settled along the surfaces of your home. The most effective way to remove allergens from your home is by ensuring you maintain your furnace filters, keep your home clean, and find air purifiers for allergies that remove the contaminants that affect your home.
Enjoy Fewer Trips to The Allergist With Air Purifiers For Allergies from Superior Home Supplies
Don’t let irritants or air pollution leave you sneezing and coughing in your home. Take control of your home’s IAQ by contacting Superior Home Supplies today to find the perfect air purifier for your home.