Air Purifier Q & A Part II

When it comes to maintaining an allergen-free home, using an air purifier is absolutely essential. Effective at eliminating pollutants such as dust, animal dander, odors, gasses, and chemicals, an air purifier is one of the first steps you should take in ensuring a healthy home. However, consumers often have questions when it comes to what type of air purifier they should purchase, as well as how to operate and maintain one. To address these concerns, here are a few frequently asked air purifier questions:

Question: Where should an air purifier be placed?
Answer: Ideally, an air purifier should be placed either in a room where you spend the most time or in highly-polluted area. Moreover, an air purifier should be located near a vent or fan to help with air circulation. Dens and living rooms are a great place to start, as are bedrooms, seeing as we spend up to 8 hours a day sleeping. Furthermore, if you have pets, placing the air purifier near a kennel, crate, or play area in order to reduce pet dander is a good idea.

In terms of positioning, for smaller rooms, place the unit at least 4 inches away from the wall or corner, but in larger areas, you will get the most benefit out of your air purifier if it is positioned in the middle of the room. Nonetheless, regardless of where you place your air purifier, always remember to ensure its intake or exhaust vents aren't obstructed by household objects and furniture.

Question: How often should HEPA filters be replaced?
Answer: The life of a HEPA filter will depend upon your air purifier manufacturer's instructions and the pollutant levels in your home. For heavily polluted areas, expect to replace the HEPA filter every few months. However, with normal use, a HEPA filter should last about a year, and if frequent HEPA replacement is inconvenient, look for HEPA filter with an extra-large surface area, such as those utilized by Airpura. Many Airpura models such as the R600 have HEPA filters that can last as long as 5 years.

Question: How often should pre-filters be cleaned?
Answer: Again, the length of time in between filter maintenance will greatly depend on manufacturer's directions and the amount of pollutants in your home. If your air purifier utilizes a washable pre-filter, washing the pre-filter once a month will maximize your unit's cleaning efficiency.

How to Alleviate Hay Fever Symptoms

Springtime conjures up memories of warmer weather, clear skies, and blooming flowers, but the season can be miserable for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. Pollen is one of the most common and prevalent allergens, and in the spring, the amount of pollen floating in the air can be up to four times greater than in any other season. According to Gillian Shepherd, M.D., an allergy specialist, "On windy days or for days after high winds, pollen counts are high because the pollen has been spread through the air. After it rains, counts drop as the rain washes the pollen away."
Therefore, allergy sufferers are all too familiar with the perils of high pollen count, and high pollen counts can affect numerous types of allergies, from conjunctivitis to skin reactions such as dermatitis. However, the most common spring allergy is allergic rhinitis.

Commonly called hay fever, seasonal allergic rhinitis affects 35 million people in the U.S. and is commonly triggered by allergens such as pollens and molds. When allergic rhinitis sufferers inhale these allergens, they are combined with an allergic antibody called immunoglobulin (IgE), and in those who have allergies, IgE is found at especially high concentrations.

To alleviate hay fever symptoms, your doctor may prescribe oral medication, nasal sprays, or eye drops, but perhaps one of the best ways at combating hay fever is to avoid substances such as pollen altogether. Here are some preventative steps you can take to keep pollen and dust out of your home:

Turn on Your Air Conditioner
Did you know that your air conditioner can actually help control allergens? Air conditioners allow windows and doors to stay closed, which keep some pollen and mold spores outside. Moreover, this keeps indoor humidity levels down, and the less moisture there is in the air, the less chance of mold growth.

Use Furnace Filters
Even though staying indoors is one way to avoid high levels of pollen, this may not be enough. Even if the windows or doors within a room remain closed, pollen can still seep n. Quality allergy furnace filters can solve this problem, and the ones from AllergyZone are great for this purpose. Be sure to change the filter regularly during hay fever season.

Wear Dust Masks
When performing housework, many common dusting and vacuum devices can actually shuffle as much dust and pollen back into the air as they take out. Therefore, a dust mask can prevent you from breathing in debris while cleaning. Also consider purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter if this is truly a concern.

Purify the Air
Air purifiers are great for those suffering from respiratory disorders such as hay fever. When choosing an air purifier, select a unit with HEPA filters and all-metal construction. True HEPA filters have the ability to remove up to 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger, and all-metal or steel gaskets prevent off-gassing of chemicals into the air.

Austin Air has also designed an air purifier specially designed for allergy sufferers. With the ability to clean large areas up to 1500 square and utilizing both medical-grade, True HEPA and HEGA filters, this air purifier is perfect for keeping hay fever symptoms at bay.

Air Purifier Q & A

The fact that our indoor air is oftentimes much more polluted than the air outside is generally accepted, and scientific studies have repeatedly shown us that the content of interior air can affect the health of building inhabitants.

The air in an average home contains billions of tiny pollution particles such as dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, viruses, and other airborne irritants. To eliminate these pollutants, using an air purifier can help create a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment, for those with allergies or asthma, air purifiers can provide instant relief of symptoms.

However, with so many different types of air purifiers on the market, many customers are often confused as to which models are most suitable for their individual purification requirements, and questions often arise. To address these concerns, Air Purifier Home will now regularly pick and answer some consumer questions commonly asked in regards to air purifiers every week. Here are this week's questions:

Question: Do I need to leave my air purifier running continuously, or can I just have it on a few hours a day?
Answer: Many people believe that cleaning the air is much like vacuuming or dusting in that it is a chore that only needs to be performed periodically. Unfortunately, the air within an indoor space is in a state of constant change, with particles, microorganisms, and gases continuously being added back into an area. Therefore, the air quality in a room is anything buy static. With that in mind, if you are looking to breathe cleaner air, leaving the purifier on for at least 12 hours a day will be more beneficial and effective, as air will be constantly filtered. If you are concerned about energy usage, keep in mind that most air purifiers cost just pennies a day to operate.

Question: Does fan speed contribute to an air purifier's effectiveness?
Answer: Generally speaking, the higher the fan speed, the more air is drawn into the air purifier. This results in more clean air being distributed per hour back into a particular space. For those suffering from respiratory disorders such as asthma or allergies, the highest amount of clean air is best.

Question: There's a lot of controversy surrounding ozone air purifiers lately. Are these safe?
Answer: Ozone is only dangerous in especially high concentrations - much higher than what an ozone air purifier is capable of producing. In moderate concentrations, ozone is harmless, useful, and very effective at eliminating airborne contaminants. However, those with sensitive lungs or respiratory problems may not want to utilize ozone in their home, as it has been known to exacerbate symptoms in those people. Instead, HEPA air purifiers are better choices.

Air Purifier Reviews: AllerAir Air Purifiers

Because more people are now realizing the dangers of polluted indoor air, the air purification industry has become big business. This has resulted in larger companies who don't specialize in air purifiers to put out inferior units which do very little to remove pollutants from the air you breathe. Fortunately, AllerAir has made it their mission to innovate, design, and sell safe, high-quality, and well-priced air purifiers which can improve your quality of life.

AllerAir was founded almost 14 years by Sam Teitelbaum because one of his family members developed multiple chemical sensitivity. Because no air purifier could provide sufficient and effective relief, Teitelbaum decided to develop his own product, and AllerAir was born.

Unlike many other air purifiers which tout high-tech purification methods such as ionizers and ozone, AllerAir has decided to simply use a unique activated carbon-HEPA blended filter to purify the air.

AllerAir's Carbon-HEPA Filters Vs. Other Air Purification Technologies

Ozone Air Purifiers
In recent news, ozone air purifiers have received negative reviews because of the health problems associated with ozone gas. In fact, the State of California has even issued a ban on all ozone air cleaners by 2009. Ozone air purifier manufacturers claim that ozone air purifiers clean the air by utilizing the oxidation powers of ozone to cause chemical reactions with harmful particulates. This then renders these particulates harmless, and while this is true, ozone also has an effect on the human body, as exposure to high levels of ozone can lead to respiratory problems, lung damage, and exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms. The carbon-HEPA based AllerAir air purifiers such as the AllerAir Air Tube do not cause chemical reactions and pose no serious health or environmental threats.

Electrostatic (Ionic) Air Purifiers
Electrostatic air purifiers use a powerful electric field to charge airborne particles which are then collected onto metal collector plates. Unfortunately, these air purifiers also produce small amounts of ozone, and independent research has shown that ionizers do little to clean the air. In comparison, carbon-HEPA air purifiers such as the AllerAir 5000 Exec are recognized as an effective and safe way to remove airborne particles, odors, gases, and chemicals.

Air Purifiers with Carbon-Treated Filters
Carbon has long been recognized as a powerful adsorption media, and many air purifier manufacturers have taken notice. Unfortunately, these air purifiers frequently use a form of foam media that has been sprayed with carbon that features only a quarter or an inch length of carbon. This translates into an ineffective filter that could stop adsorbing within hours. On the other hand, AllerAir air purifiers such as the AllerAir 4000 Exec UV use several pounds of granular activated carbon which can last for years depending on use.

HEPA Air Purifiers
Many air purifiers only utilize HEPA filtration to purify the air, and while HEPA filters are an extremely effective way to remove airborne particles, they cannot remove odors, gases, chemicals, or smoke from the air. AllerAir's carbon-HEPA combination filter, as seen in models such as the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb, not only removes particles, but they filter out some of the most harmful pollutants - gases and chemicals. For serious indoor pollutant abatement, HEPA, used in conjunction with Activated Carbon, has been found to be the most effective method of ensuring clean air.

Air Purifier News: Are Air Duct Cleanings Necessary?

Many Americans are beginning to realize the effects of poor indoor air quality, and air purification is now a billion dollar industry. Also, to address growing concern over indoor air pollution, there has been an increase in the number of air duct cleaning service providers touting the benefits of duct cleaning.

Essentially, duct cleaning refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing. These types of services can typically range from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, and this greatly depends on the size of the system being cleaned, system accessibility, climate, and level of contamination.

While it may seem logical that over time, air ducts get dirty and should occasionally be cleaned, some argue that it may not be necessary. In fact, the EPA has stated that there is no proof that duct cleaning actually prevents health problems, as there are bigger sources of pollutants in the home in addition to just air ducts. Instead, the EPA recommends you make sure that dirty air ducts are the cause of your indoor air problems.

If you or someone in your household is suffering from allergies or unexplained symptoms and if on physical inspection, you see mold growing in the ducts or other parts of the ventilation system; infestation of vermin in the air ducts; or dust and debris clogging the ducts, causing it to be released it is being released into the home from supply registers, then perhaps a duct cleaning may be a good idea. The above conditions are often indications of a bigger problem rather than just a dirty air duct.

However, if duct cleaning may not be of benefit and if you are still concerned with indoor air quality, consider purchasing a HEPA air purifier or an inexpensive furnace filter. These products utilize an advanced filtration system to remove particulates from the air you breathe, and they will also prevent the recirculation of dirty air inside your home.

The Alen T100 Air Purifier - Effective, Yet Affordable

Purifying your air doesn't have to be expensive. While some of the more advanced air purifiers on the market often tout high-tech features such as PCO technology and UV sterilization, for those who just want to breathe in cleaner air, the Alen T100 Air Purifier is a great choice, as it delivers the technology and performance you'll find in more expensive models at a price that'll help you breathe easier.

Because it only weighs 8 pounds, the T100 is compact enough for you to move it from room to room. Therefore, this air purifier is ideal for small areas up to 125 square feet such as bedrooms, dorm rooms, or office cubicles. Using a combination pre-filter and HEPA filter, the Alen T100 has the ability to remove 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger - making it the perfect choice for those suffering from asthma and allergies. Digital controls and intuitive touch buttons allow for easy operation, and this air purifier is backed by a lifetime warranty. Also, when we tested the T100 in our office, we found that it was virtually silent at the lowest setting, and hardly noticeable at the highest.

At only $149, the Alen T100 air purifier is definitely a bargain.

Vacuuming Doesn't Remove Dust Mites - What About Air Purifiers?

Dust mites are nuisances found in all homes and often wreck havoc on one's allergies. In fact, they are considered the most common cause of asthma and allergy symptoms worldwide, and their enzymes can produce noxious odors in full vacuum bags. In order to find ways to limit exposure to such allergens, a recent study was conducted by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Australia. Because vacuuming is usually the most common way of removing dust mites, the Australian researchers wanted to test the efficacy of this method, but they found that vacuum cleaning was ineffective and inconsistent at removing dust mite allergens from carpets.

In fact, rather than removing dust mites from carpets, vacuuming helped changed the distribution of the mites within the carpets. While vacuums with rotating heads were initially more successful at picking up dander and allergens, the rotating vacuum heads were counterproductive in that they also served to kick up the dust in the air after prolonged use. In response to the study results, Woolcock researcher Jason Sercombe stated: "Allergen avoidance measures that rely solely on vacuum cleaning are likely to be of limited success unless rigorous cleaning than standard home vacuuming is performed."

Instead of vacuuming, the researchers at Woodcock suggested regularly washing bedding, pillows, and stuffed toys with hot water on a weekly basis. In addition, Sercombe also noted the effectiveness of HEPA filters in helping to reduce dust mite allergens, as he stated: "The most important aspect to look for is HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filter) filtration."