How Effective Are Green Air Purifiers for Allergies?
Indoor air quality significantly affects the health and comfort of the home’s occupants. Air purifiers are a reliable solution to improving indoor air quality by eliminating pollutants and keeping the air crisp and clean. They reduce airborne allergens to help prevent and mitigate seasonal allergies.
However, traditional air purifiers may not be the best choice because they have a significant environmental impact. Green air purifiers reduce air pollution, minimize allergens in the air, and have fewer negative impacts on the planet. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about green air purifiers and how exactly they help with allergies.
What are green air purifiers?
Green air purifiers are eco-friendly and energy-efficient solutions for maintaining human and environmental health. They’re made from sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable materials like recycled plastics, coconut fiber, and bamboo.
They come with biodegradable or recyclable filters, such as activated carbon or HEPA filters, that are long-lasting and don’t need to be replaced often. Choosing models with a long lifespan or modular components also prevents the amount of air purifier waste from ending up in landfills.
How do green air purifiers work?
Air purifiers use ions or fans to attract small particulate matter in the air, capture it in the filter, and remove it. Their performance and the type of allergens they remove from the air are determined by the filters used.
The highest quality HEPA (high-efficiency particulate accumulator) filters can remove up to 99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. These include pet dander, dust, pollen, bacteria, odors, gasses, dust mites, mold spores and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
An air filter that removes VOCs from the air is important for indoor environments, which have thousands more VOCs than outdoors. Furnishings, carpets, and building materials produce indoor VOCs, which can result in a wide range of health issues.
Correct use of your green air filter also determines its effectiveness and efficiency for allergy relief. Turn on your air filter for several hours at a time to collect as many allergies as possible. Remember to close windows and doors when your air filter runs to prevent attracting more allergens from outside.
Are green air purifiers effective for allergies?
Green air purifiers reduce airborne allergens, like dust, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander, that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms. They also trap smoke, odors, and airborne chemicals that can trigger allergies. They’re especially effective at preventing seasonal, mild, or moderate allergies.
They improve the comfort and livability of bedrooms and common areas by improving air quality, speed quality, and overall well-being. To ensure green air purifiers are effective in minimizing allergies, you must consider the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) — which refers to the amount of air that the system can filter and deliver per minute.
Choosing air purifiers with a higher CADR will ensure they cover a larger area and filter more air at once. Following the manufacturer’s use and maintenance guidelines to ensure the efficacy of your air purifiers. Other factors that affect the effectiveness of air purifiers include the size of the unit relative to the room and the type of filtration used.
Can some air filters make allergies worse?
Yes, some air filters can make allergies worse. These are traditional non-green air filters that contain allergen triggers. An example is ozone-generating air purifiers and air cleaners that produce a natural ozone gas called activated oxygen or super oxygen, which triggers allergies and causes numerous health problems, including damaging your lungs.
Air ionizers are another example of air purifiers that could make allergies worse. These electrically charge tiny particulate particles, making them fall out of the air. However, they’re ineffective in removing larger allergen particles like pollen and dust. Even worse, it produces and releases ozone — a lung irritant that’s harmful to human health.
Do green air filters improve sleep quality?
The Asthma and Allergy Information Resource recommends using an air purifier in your bedroom to improve air quality and make your room more comfortable. Position it toward your headboard to ensure good airflow and mitigate particulate exposure, creating a more conducive sleeping environment.
How else can you mitigate airborne indoor allergens?
For the best results, we recommend using air purifiers in conjunction with other strategies to improve allergy control in your indoor environment, such as:
- Ensuring proper ventilation.
- Regular and thorough home cleaning.
- Regular vacuuming using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA cleaner
- Grooming and washing your pets regularly.
- Avoiding allergy triggers.
- Keeping allergy medication on hand.
- Investing in houseplants that strip toxins and airborne particles from the air.
- Keeping windows closed during peak pollen periods like spring and fall.
- Frequently scrubbing damp areas like bathrooms and basements to prevent mold growth.
Improve indoor air quality with green air filters
Green air filters sufficiently reduce allergens in indoor environments, making homes more comfortable and safe for people with allergies and asthma. They also have other benefits, including energy savings, eco-friendliness, and minimal environmental effects.
To keep allergens completely at bay, ensure you choose an air purifier with a high-quality HEPA filter, an adequate air delivery rate, and suitable for the allergens you need to filter.