People with allergies can take many steps to keep flare-ups from striking. One of the most effective of those is minimizing their contact with known allergens. Unfortunately, staying away from mold spores, pet dander, dust mites, and others can be tricky. Allergy attacks can happen inside the home, too, especially because indoor air tends to be several times poorer than outdoor air. In some instances, it can be 100 times worse.
To clean the air that enters your airways and comes into contact with your skin while spending time indoors, it is good to use the best air purifier for allergies. It comes with an assortment of features that make indoor living easier and more productive for someone who is frequently bugged by various allergy symptoms.
HEPA Filter
Refrain from shelling out money for an air purifier if it doesn’t have a HEPA filter. Short for high-efficiency particulate air, a HEPA filter is a mesh that can trap the smallest of particles in the air. Experts say that a HEPA filter is excellent for purifying the air because it can eliminate up to 99.9% of allergens and pollutants.
To give you a better idea of how fantastic a HEPA filter is: this type of filter can trap a particle that is about 300 times smaller than the diameter of your hair. Because of this, it doesn’t come as a surprise why some of the best selling air purifiers out there have HEPA filters.
Carbon Filter
Other than a HEPA filter, you should also check that the air purifier you are about to buy has a carbon filter. Such is especially true if certain smells leave you with all kinds of unpleasant symptoms, from headaches to sneezing.
Sometimes known as an activated charcoal filter, a carbon filter is very good at eliminating smells. Its presence in an air purifier can work to your advantage if your bedroom is right next to the kitchen, or you are sharing the home with a smoker. A carbon filter, especially when paired with a HEPA filter, can make indoor air clean and smell fresh, too.
Filter Change Alert
While effective at carrying out their respective tasks, both HEPA and carbon filters are not everlasting. Experts say that a HEPA filter needs replacement every 12 to 18 months. A carbon filter, on the other hand, needs replacement every three to six months. If you are a busy individual, you may forget the numbers rather easily.
To save yourself from the trouble, opt for an air purifier that can tell you when it’s time to check or replace the filters. Thanks to this feature, you can rest assured that your air purifier can let you breathe clean indoor air.
Quiet Operation
Most people who suffer from allergies have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Catching some shut-eye is not easy if one is constantly sneezing or coughing, or cannot breathe because of a stuffy nose. Alas, sleep deprivation may aggravate allergy symptoms, health experts say.
The best air purifier for allergies is something that operates quietly. Otherwise, its loud buzzing can keep you wide awake all night long, even if you have no allergy symptoms. A quiet air purifier may still give off a faint hum, but it can double as a white noise that helps make a lot of people fall asleep better.
