Tips for Selecting an Air Purifier If You have Allergies or Asthma

If you suffer from allergies or asthma, here are some tips for you to know when it comes to buying an air purifier.

There are many types of air purifiers like ionizing, ultraviolet, and filter-based ones.  Most people prefer to use filter-based purifiers as the others can produce ozone which can irritate your lungs. Purifiers with HEPA filters can capture up to 99.97% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. These allergens are about as small as smoke or fine dust particles. Do keep in mind that filter-based air purifiers do not capture gasses, so they will not protect you from carbon monoxide, radon or VOCs, cigarette smoke, pet odor, etc. unless you have a carbon filter. Some air purifiers have pre-filters that can save money by extending the life of the HEPA filter and improving their effectiveness.

After buying an air purifier, make sure you take some simple steps to reduce air irritants. By doing this, it will help make your air purifier work even better.

• If you or a family member has severe allergies or asthma, ensure you vacuum often, at least once a week. This will help your purifier function better.
• Make sure you maintain your heating and cooling systems (HVAC) and change your filters at least every 3 months. This is very important as this recirculates air throughout the entire house.
• Be sure to clean the lint in the laundry machine after every use. You should also vacuum behind your air purifier as well.
• Do not smoke indoors.
• Do not use too many candles, incense, or wood fires.
• Use exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen.
• Do not store chemicals inside (e.g. pesticides, solvents, etc.)
• Seal any drafts you have by windows and doors.

Picking the Right Size

When picking air purifiers, keep in mind that most models overstate the size of the room that they will be ideal for. So, it is best to opt for an air purifier that is slightly larger in size if you want it to be efficient.