Contrary to popular belief, indoor air is not entirely clean air. Indoor air may still contain pollutants made up of different particles such as pollen, microorganisms, gases, and dust that can become potential allergens. Individuals that are frequently exposed to these harmful contaminants may experience mild to moderate symptoms caused by allergic reactions.
Fortunately, there is a solution for keeping the air indoors clean and safe for you and your loved ones. This is through the use of air purifiers for allergies. If you have always wondered how you can benefit from air purifiers, below are some of the essential things you need to know about it.
What are Air Purifiers?
Air purifiers are home appliances that clean indoor air by removing harmful contaminants. As mentioned above, these harmful contaminants could be in the form of dust particles, pollen, microorganisms, and gases. An air purifier can be made up of a specialised filter that is specific for a particular pollutant or contaminant.
Air purifiers can clean indoor air because it sucks in contaminated air and removes the contaminants as well as harmful pollutants through its specialised filters. Once the contaminated air is filtered, clean air is then pushed back outside, according to an article by Good Housekeeping.
The filtration process is like a cycle that repeats as long as the air purifier is turned on. This means it would be best that you turn on the purifier for an extended period to ensure that indoor air is clean.
What Air Purifier Should I Buy?
There are different types of air purifiers for allergies that are available in the market today. They mostly differ from the filter that they are made up with. The three most popular types include HEPA, UVGI, and Activated Carbon.
HEPA Purifiers
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers are made up of filters that are mechanical and fibrous. This purifier is the best choice for the prevention of allergic reactions because it can remove the majority of known allergens. HEPA purifiers can remove harmful particles such as dust, pollen, and gases, to name a few.
UVGI Air Purifiers
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) air purifiers specialise in removing the harmful living allergens such as bacteria and fungi. It can do so because it emits electromagnetic radiation that damages the DNA and kills pathogenic microorganisms.
Allergic reactions caused by bacteria and fungi cause severe signs and symptoms that may lead to respiratory disorders. Some individuals with previous health conditions such as asthma may experience a worsening of symptoms and lead to difficulty of breathing or shortness of breath.
Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon
Air purifiers with activated carbon are made up of incredibly porous filters that can absorb a higher number of allergens or particles compared to purifiers with traditional carbon filters. Activated carbon filters can be used to filter out pet hair, dust, and spores in indoor air. It can also be used as a deodoriser because it can remove unpleasant odours, contributing to the freshness of your home.
Numerous studies have been published about the benefits of air purifiers, and you can never go wrong in having one of them inside your home.
