Features of the choice of air cleaner for allergies and asthmatics
An air purifier is one of the means to fight allergies. Naturally, the device is not able to cure the disease, but will help create a home hypoallergenic environmentthat will reduce the frequency of seizures. Intensive purification of air from various allergens will help not only for allergies, but also for asthma or other respiratory diseases.
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How an air purifier fights allergens
At home, even with regular room cleaning, there may be a mass of allergens in the air that irritate the upper respiratory tract mucosa and eyes:
- coarse and fine dust, dust mites and their waste products;
- plant pollen enters homes through open windows, spreads from indoor flowers;
- animal hair, hair particles, nap from carpets and other materials;
- chemical fumes from household chemicals;
- exhaust gases, emissions from factories or enterprises.
The principle of operation is that the device catches, neutralizes or destroys organic and inorganic impurities in the air.. With effective work of the cleaner, a significant decrease in the concentration of allergens in the air is observed, respectively, the regularity of allergy attacks decreases. For people with a predisposition to the disease, an air purifier will be an excellent preventive measure.
Choosing the right model
Air purifiers for the house is chosen strictly according to its purpose, or rather - by particle sizewhich he is able to hold. Allergens can be of different sizes, for example, fine dust may have a minimum size of 0.003 microns, and particles of hair, wool or pollen - 3 microns.
A good option would be to purchase a device with a complex filtering system, where 3 or more cleaning elements of different actions are installed.
Eliminating only the main cause of allergy is not enough, the susceptible mucous will react sharply to any irritants, because the solution to the problem comes down to maximum air purification. This task is best handled by the HEPA filter, and of all the types of choice it is worth stopping at versions higher than H11, where the purification efficiency exceeds 99%. If the purchase price plays an important role, it is permissible to purchase a model with HEPA-filter class H11 with a declared efficiency of 95% and a high performance indicator. The high air flow rate compensates for the lack of filter efficiency.
Summarizing a small result, it is worth noting that the HEPA-filter of any class is effective against mechanical elements of both large and smallest size, but is not capable of retaining gas molecules. Filtration systems will be useful for allergies to cats, dogs, hamsters, and plant pollen. But hepa useless in the fight against gas molecules. Exhaust gases, household chemicals, cosmetic smells are no less irritants than animal hair. A good solution would be the addition of HEPA carbon filter, which qualitatively cleans the air from various chemical fumes.
What is useful "wash" air
In the fight against dust, it is often recommended to get a "sink" of air, which simultaneously performs humidifier function. If you approach the issue of choice in detail - this is not always a good option, and there are several reasons.
- Does not eliminate odors.
- Due to its design it is not effective against coarse and very fine dust.
- Some types of allergens are resistant to water and do not linger in the device.
In addition, the device will require regular maintenance: clean, replace water. Recommends doing it daily, so as not to create favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria.
If you still decide to purchase, but do not know which one to choose, first of all pay attention to the recommended processing area, it should be more actual. In the second - focus on additional functionality, for example, the presence of an ionizer.
Will photocatalytic cleaners help allergies?
Photocatalytic air purifiers are effective in combating various organic impurities (dust mites, bacteria, viruses, fungal spores), but they are powerless against inorganic particles.
The principle of operation of this device consists in a chemical reaction: a UV lamp acts on titanium dioxide, as a result a strong oxidizer is formed that can decompose the “organic” into simple components. The reaction process can not be called fast, to effectively eliminate all allergens, you need a certain time. In cases where the concentration of impurities is very high, the device may not cope with the amount of work.
Productivity here will not be the key solution: the faster the air flow, the less microorganisms will be affected by the oxidizer.
Choosing among photocatalytic models, purchase only those that are complemented by other types of filters, for example - HEPA or plasma filter. Such a solution will increase the final cost of the device, but will provide really high efficiency.
Pre-filter - a simple solution to major problems.
The coarse or prefilter filters work on the sieve principle: air captures elements of contamination, and the mesh retains all large particles. There are a variety of versions of such filters, they differ bandwidth.
Despite the high efficiency against coarse dust, wool and lint, it should be borne in mind that these impurities are considered heavy, and they often settle on a plane - on the floor, table, furniture. Coarse cleaning systems will be the right solution. in combination with electrostatic filters. Pay attention to performance and recommended quadrature, here is the case when more is better.
Review of Good Models to Fight Allergies
Considering the various air cleaner options for allergy sufferers, pay attention to recommended floor space. It is better if it is larger than the actual square of a room or apartment - in this case, the device will update the air much faster. As mentioned above, high performance is good in all cases, except for photocatalytic cleaning system.
IQAir Allergen 100 - Premium Performance Level
Model Allergen 100 is recommended as the best air cleaner for both allergy sufferers and asthmatics.. The device, originally from Switzerland, has impeccable build quality and is equipped with two filters: for pre-cleaning the air and an HEPA filter of class H12 / 13, capable of trapping particles up to 0.003 microns in size. The device is designed for rooms up to 90 m².
The device is used to create a comfortable environment and helps against allergies to animals, pollen, dust. The high cost of the cleaner is due not only to its effectiveness, but also to the whole near flexible settings. The user can set the optimal value of the fan rotation speed for different times of the day; a weekly timer is provided with precise programming on the days of the week. Complements the set of options remote control, 6 preset modes of operation, filter pollution indicator.
Effective against:
- household dust, dust mites;
- microbes, viruses;
- fingers from plants;
- construction or street dust;
- animal hair;
- lint, hair particles.
Aic AC-3022 - effective at an affordable price
Very interesting model with three filtering elements: HEPA class H14, pre-filter and replaceable carbon filter. The device is equipped with an indicator of air pollution, adjustable speed.
A pleasant addition will be several modes, including night, and low noise - only 46 dB at the highest fan speed. No less advantage is the affordable price.
Among the shortcomings is the average quadrature (only 28 m²), but according to reviews, this is enough for a small room or office with an area of up to 25 m².
Effective against:
- all types of foreign odors, including exhaust fumes, vapors of household chemicals or cosmetics, smog;
- all types of household and street mechanical impurities;
- particles of wool, hair, textiles;
- street, construction, household dust, dust mites, harmful microorganisms.
Aic KJF-20B06 - 6 steps of air purification
This antiallergenic air cleaner is perfect for both the apartment and the office. The declared cleaning area is 45 m². The device is designed for allergy sufferers and is able to clean and disinfect the air, thanks to 6 elements:
- traditional pre-filter;
- carbon adsorption filter;
- HEPA filter;
- photocatalytic filter;
- Ultraviolet lamp;
- Built-in air ionizer.
A comprehensive filtration system will ensure the removal and destruction of virtually all types of pollution, viruses, bacteria, gases and allergens.
The device is presented in two colors, attracts modern design and user-friendly controls. Among the useful options, the user will find a timer, remote control. The classic performance in the style of Hi-Tech is expressed in a streamlined shape of the device, a color display.