Introduction
One of the key reasons to get an air purifier is to prevent allergic reactions. Air purifiers work by taking in ambient air, filtering it, and expelling fresh and clean air free of allergens.
How do air purifiers work to reduce allergies? Well, you are about to find out as we tell you everything you need to know so you can choose the best air purifier for allergies.
What Causes Allergies?
An allergy is the body’s natural reaction to a foreign body or substance that it perceives as ‘harmful’ (whether it is or not).
As to how severe that reaction is can depend entirely on each individual. Allergic symptoms vary greatly. Some people may register an allergy as mild irritation, normally of the eyes, nose, and throat.
However, severe sufferers can experience significant symptoms, including breathing difficulties, large skin rashes, and swelling.
The causes of allergies are numerous. Here are some things that you’ll find in the air at home that could trigger an allergic reaction:
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Pet Dander
- Nut residue
- Pollen
- Fumes and Traffic Pollution
- Certain types of mold spores and bacteria
All of the above can be removed with a good-quality air purifier.
How Do Air Purifiers Actually Help with Allergies?
As we have just seen, allergies are the body’s response to particles that it sees as ‘harmful’. While we can’t always control our body’s response, what we can control is the amount of these allergens that are in the air in the first place.
How?
With an air purifier.
Air purifiers work by filtering the air and removing the allergens. The allergens are sucked in with the ambient air. This air is forced through several layers of filtration. These filters trap the allergens and expel clean and pure air into your room.
Because these purifiers are designed to run constantly, they filter all of the air, leading to a living space with 100% pure air free of allergens.
What Allergies Can an Air Purifier Solve?
Provided that your air purifier has a good quality filter (or series of them), it will remove most allergens.
Provided the filter is dense enough to trap particles, any on our above list can be trapped by the filter and removed from the air in your home entirely.
Here are some of the places that benefit from an air purifier:
Residences in Built-Up Areas
While living the metropolitan lifestyle can be favorable for certain reasons, it does come with its downsides.
Namely, traffic.
Pollution from dense traffic can easily get into your home, even if you are unaware of it. Traffic fumes contain a whole manner of irritants and allergens that can cause chronic breathing difficulties. The good news is that an air purifier can trap the vast majority of pollutants.
People Who Own Pets
Pet ‘dander’ is normally what triggers allergies. This is made up of dead skin cells and traces of pet saliva, and occasionally fecal matter (nice). This is often what causes pet odors too, so if your beloved four-legged friend has a little ‘aroma’, this could be the reason.
If the above makes you recoil in horror, then an air purifier could be the answer. They are really effective at removing pet smells and the things that cause allergic reactions to pets.
Any Home with Hay Fever Sufferers
While the summer might mean sunshine and outdoor living, it can be a little bit of a nightmare for certain people.
Hay fever is actually a colloquial term given to a pollen allergy. It can cause mild to severe discomfort among sufferers, including a constant runny nose, stinging eyes, and a sore throat that lasts for months and months.
It would be a shame if your home wasn’t a refuge from these symptoms. Luckily an air purifier can easily trap pollen particles meaning stepping your front door will be a breath of fresh air.
Those Who Live in Dusty Areas
Dust can be particularly problematic. And it isn’t just the dust particles themselves that are the problem. If you’ve got a lot of dust, there is a very good chance of having another problem.
These tiny creatures feast on all the things that make up dust (including dead skin cells, yuck!). While people may think they are allergic to dust, it can often be the case that they are allergic to dust mites.
How?
Dust mite feces can cause severe allergic reactions. Because it is so small, it easily becomes airborne.
The best solution?
A good quality air filter.
How Do I Choose an Air Purifier for Allergies?
All air purifiers are not created alike. Some are better than others. Here are the features you should look for in choosing an air purifier.
An Excellent HEPA Filtration System
This is a must. HEPA stands for ‘High-Efficiency Particulate Air). Any air purifier bearing this abbreviation must meet a minimum required standard of filtration. This filter forms a membrane that traps the majority of allergens.
High Efficiency
You’d be amazed at the volume of air in even a small room. Any filter that cleans a large volume in a short space of time is great value.
The Clair Air purifier can create enough clean and pure air to last for 14 days… And the best thing is to do so. It only needs to run for a single hour!
The More Stages, the Better
The more the air is filtered, the purer it is. Ideally, look for an air purifier with 4 stages of filtration. A UV Sterilizer at the end-stage will even remove viruses and germs from the air!
Quiet
Ideally, you will want to run an air purifier 24/7. In fact, that is what they are designed to do! For that reason, you’ll want a practically silent air purifier.
Certified
This is perhaps one of the most important qualities to look for.
Allergies are no joke, and you’ll want to be assured that your air purifier is doing its job. Clair Air Purifiers are certified by ECARF, an official medical body dedicated to reducing the harmful effects of allergies.
Conclusion
Clair America provides high-quality air purifiers that satisfy all of the above criteria. Our air purifiers can significantly reduce allergens in the air, and therefore help with allergic reactions. Why not look at our range of air purifiers and read more about what they can do for you.