Do Air Filters Help with Seasonal Allergies?

Air purifiers are designed to trap dust, pollen, and other contaminants that are present in the air we breathe. This can be effective in reducing the source of allergies. Air pollution is not just car exhaust or factory smoke. Dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander in the air inside your home can cause problems if your family has allergies or asthma.

Using HEPA filters can trap these contaminants and can help relieve allergies. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. It is a type of mechanical air filter that works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke. Air purifiers work to reduce the amount of pollen in the air, which in turn should relieve allergy symptoms. However, results may vary from person to person. The exact operation of an air purifier will depend on the size of the room you are in, the local climate, the model of the purifier, and your own personal health.

Honeywell got into legal trouble for exaggerating the effectiveness of its air purifiers, so be wary of bold claims from manufacturers. There is no such thing as an “air purifier” or an air cleaner that can purify all the air you breathe. Some units equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) light kill viruses and bacteria, but even this does not purify all the air you breathe. The best thing any air filter can do is to remove small particles that pass through the filter. Air filtration is just one of several measures that can provide benefits to children and adults with allergies and asthma.

For example, activated carbon filters will be better at removing odors, but not as good at removing pollen from the air. The air felt less stagnant and stuffy, and allergy symptoms such as dry throat and watery eyes improved. The appliance industry has established a Clean Air Supply Rate (CADR) to allow consumers to choose the right room air purifier for the room they want to treat. Air purifiers help filter out most of the air particles that aggravate allergies, as well as small contaminants that have settled on your furniture, walls and floors after a long year in quarantine. For several weeks now, I have been testing several portable air purifiers which supposedly remove allergens, pollutants and odors from my indoor air. When I asked Ted Myatt, an environmental microbiologist who works at the University of Rhode Island and consults for Honeywell if I would feel healthier after using a household air purifier for an extended period of time, he said yes. Filters such as ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) used in certain industrial or scientific environments or in cleanrooms are not suitable for domestic use.

For seasonal allergy sufferers, winter often provides relief as plants are inactive and do not pollinate. Coway Airmega 250 air purifier combines a four-stage filtration process (including a pre-filter and a deodorization filter) to remove 99.99% of airborne particulates (including 99.98% of SARS-CoV-2 virus depending on brand). But it's 99.9% effective at helping prevent other viruses as its high-end HEPA filter captures and traps dust, pollen, mold and other potentially harmful particles in the air. Elizabeth Matsui, professor at Johns Hopkins who is also the chair of the committee on indoor air pollution and allergens at the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology noted that pollen doesn't stay in the air for long; it tends to settle quickly on the ground. I chose Germ Guardian 3-in-1 digital air cleaning system with Pet Pure filter which uses a combination of True HEPA filter and UV-C light. While filters can't completely eliminate common allergy triggers such as dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander; the best air purifiers will help improve overall air quality in your home hoping to help reduce some of the most unpleasant allergy symptoms and help you breathe a little easier. You can combine these filters with other professional air purifiers to get the best possible protection against allergies. In this post we'll discuss causes of seasonal allergies and how a quality replacement air filter can help mitigate and eliminate seasonal allergies.