1. How Allergies Work
Air borne allergies affect 15 millions Americans each year. Grass, pollen, dust and animal dander are all allergens. When a person with respiratory allergies inhales any of these items, they have an allergic reaction. The antibodies in the blood encounter these items and deem them a hazard. The body releases histamine to flush the body of this toxin. The nasal passages become congested and mucus production is increased, resulting in runny noses. Breathing can become difficult as the alveoli struggle to expand and absorb oxygen. The body continues to respond to this perceived threat until the air is clean.
2. Benefits
The air purifier removes the larger particles of known allergens from the air, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and dust mite feces. A stand alone air purifier cleans the air in a specific room. An air purifier attached to the central heating or air conditioning system cleans the air as it enters the house. When these particles disappear from the air, the body does not have to respond to them in the form of an allergic reaction. There are no side effects and people without allergies feel the benefits as well.
3. Costs of Air Purifiers
Air purifiers range in price from $200 to $25,000. When comparing the options, keep in mind a realist view of how you live in your home. A room purifier must run all the time, as air moves in and out of that room constantly. The air is moved by the air circulation system or by people moving around the house. This air must be cleaned. HVAC based air cleaning systems cost more, but provide clean air throughout the house. Another cost to consider when making your choice is the electricity cost and the consumables. A filter based system requires replacement filters. Check the price for the filters and how long they are expected to last.
4. Tips to Improve Efficiency of Air Purifiers
Close all the windows to reduce the allergens entering the home. Check your house for insulation. The better insulated, the more control you have over the allergies entering the house. No house is air tight, but proper sealing and insulation reduces heating, air condition and air cleaning costs.
5. Selecting the Correct Type of Air Purifier
There are five main types of air purifiers available on the market today; Filter based model, Activated Carbon, PCO or Photocatalytic Oxidation, Ionizer purifiers and Ozone generators. Filter based air purifiers suck the air through a replaceable honeycomb filter. The activated carbon method uses activated charcoal to pull the particles from the air. PCO uses ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria and allergens in the air. Ionizers add a positive ion charge to the air as it passes through the filter. The heavy particles are weighed down and collected in the device. Ozone generators release ozone into the air. It collects on the particles, making them neutral.
