Air Purifiers For Allergies Shopping for the right air purifier can be confusing and frustrating, while the sheer number of options, sizes, and prices available, and comparing all these options can be overwhelming. To help you choose a great HEPA air purifier that can leave you breathing better, we have put together this list of our top allergy air purifiers that our customers consistently rate as some of the best overall buys in terms of effectiveness, price, and durability. These top five allergy air purifiers are the most popular HEPA air cleaners as tested, used, reviewed, and approved by thousands of allergy, asthma, and MCS sufferers. Austin Air Bedroom Machine HEPA Air Purifiers IQAir HealthPro Plus - New Edition Austin Air Allergy Machine HEGA Air Purifiers Blueair 503 HEPASilent Air Purifier Honeywell 50250 HEPA Air Purifier Honeywell 18155 HEPA Air Purifier IQAir Cleanroom H13 HEPA Air Purifier Amaircare 2500 HEPA Air Purifiers

Amaircare 3000 HEPA Air Purifiers IQAir HealthPro - New Edition IQAir HealthPro Compact - New Edition Alen T500 Air Purifier Blueair 203 HEPASilent Air Purifier Blueair 403 HEPASilent Air Purifier Blueair 603 HEPASilent Air Purifier Blueair Classic 650E Air Purifier What's behind our air purifier Ratings? Air purifier buying guide Before you buy an air purifier, try some simple, common-sense steps to reduce indoor air pollution. Begin by vacuuming often, banning smoking indoors, minimizing use of candles and wood fires, and using exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas. Test your home for radon gas, which can cause lung cancer (test kits cost about $15). Don't store chemicals, solvents, glues, or pesticides in your house. Minimize the risk of deadly carbon monoxide gas by properly maintaining and venting heating equipment, wood stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and vents--and by installing carbon-monoxide alarms on all levels of your home.

And don't idle your car, run fuel-burning power equipment, or light a barbecue grill in your garage, basement, or in confined spaces near your home.air purifier for printing industryThe better air purifiers do especially well at filtering pollutant particles such as dust, tobacco smoke, and pollen. clean air europe cafe programmeVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other types of gaseous pollutants, however, are another matter. air cleaner kit harley davidsonSome portable models with carbon pre-filters are claimed to filter VOCs, known respiratory irritants that arise from adhesives, paints, and cleaning products. But the Environmental Protection Agency warns that such filters are specific to certain gaseous pollutants, not for others, and that no air purifiers are expected to remove all gaseous pollutants found in the typical home.

Carbon filters also must be replaced often, typically every 3-6 months, or they stop working--and can even, when full, release trapped pollutants back into the air. The safer course: Heed strict product-label warnings such as "use only in well-ventilated spaces."Air-purifier models with an electrostatic precipitator remove pollutant particles by charging them as they pass through and collecting them on an oppositely charged metal plate or filter. In the process, they produce some ozone as a byproduct. You'll also find dedicated ozone generators, which produce relatively large amounts of this gas by design. While ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone is an irritant that can worsen asthma and compromise your ability to fight respiratory infections. We believe that air purifiers that emit even small amounts of ozone are a poor choice if someone in your household has pulmonary problems or allergy symptoms. We also suggest that you avoid dedicated ozone generators entirely, given their high ozone emissions.

The very best portable models we tested were effective at cleaning the air of dust, smoke, and pollen at their highest or lowest speed. For whole-house purifiers, our recommended models did best at filtering dust and pollen without impeding the airflow of forced-air heating and cooling systems. The worst models weren't terribly effective at any speed. Do You Need an Air Filter? Do you sniffle and sneeze and wheeze your way through the year? If you are plagued by allergies and/or asthma, you may be considering purchasing a home air filtration system. But is it worth the money? Will it actually help ease your symptoms? Not if you don't make other changes in your environment as well, say medical experts. "Buying an air cleaner is not my first suggestion," says Nathan Rabinovitch, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Medical Research Center in Denver. "It's more of a backup recommendation."Minimize Exposure First Instead, minimizing your exposure to other allergens in the home is the first line of attack in reducing allergic and asthmatic reactions, says Rabinovitch, who offers these suggestions:

Avoid carpeting and use smooth flooring instead. If you have pets, consider finding them a new home. If that's not an option, keep the pets outside. If that's not an option either, at the very least, keep them out of the bedroom, and certainly off the bed, and off as much of the other furniture in the house as possible. Use air conditioning in the warmer months to get rid of outdoor pollens or allergens. Clean all air filters, air conditioner filters, and duct filters at each change of season. Keep your windows closed (at home and in the car) and avoid spending time outdoors when your allergies are acting up. Use the hottest water possible to rid your laundry of dust mites. Avoid furnishings that gather dust. Seek an Air Filter Second If you have tried these tactics and aren't finding adequate relief, then it may be time to consider adding an air filter. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association recommend air filtration for people with allergies and asthma, but not as a solution by itself.

Controlling allergy-causing pollution and ventilation are more important; there is disagreement on whether filters give much added relief from asthma in a clean and well-ventilated home. This opinion is echoed by the Institute of Medicine, which has said "air cleaners are probably helpful in some situations in reducing allergy or asthma symptoms," but that air cleaning "is not consistently and highly effective in reducing symptoms." But an air filter still might help you. There are five basic types:Mechanical filters force air through a special screen that traps particles including allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. They also capture irritant particles such as tobacco smoke. The best-known mechanical filter is the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA (which is a type of filter, not a brand name) was developed during World War II to prevent radioactive particles from escaping from laboratories. To qualify as a true HEPA filter, a device must be able to capture at least 90% of all particles 0.3 microns or larger in diameter that enter it.

There are filters on the market that claim to be HEPAs, but may not be as efficient, so look for a system that meets true HEPA filtration standards.Electronic filters use electrical charges to attract and deposit allergens and irritants. If the device contains collecting plates, the particles are captured within the system; otherwise, they stick to room surfaces and have to be cleared away. The most efficient filters are electrostatic precipitators, and the best of those use a fan.Hybrid filters contain elements of both mechanical and electrostatic filters.Gas phase filters remove odors and non-particulate pollution such as cooking gas, gasses emitted from paint or building materials, and perfume. They do not remove allergens.Ozone generators are devices that intentionally produce ozone, which manufacturers claim cleans the air. They are not recommended by the EPA or the American Lung Association because ozone can be harmful to lungs at high concentrations. And the EPA says ozone at safe levels "have little potential to remove indoor air contaminants."

Still, if you do choose to use such a device, the American Lung Association advises "choosing one that ensures high efficiency over an extended period of time (at least several months) and does not produce ozone levels above 0.05 parts per million, either intentionally or as a by-product of its design." If your home is heated or air conditioned through ducts, it may be possible to build filters into your air handling system. A whole-house system will also save space and additional noise in your home. On the other hand, the filters may be more expensive and more difficult to handle, and they may need to be changed more often.Choosing a Device The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America suggests asking these questions before purchasing an air filter: Recommended Related to Allergies Seasonal Allergies: 4 Routes to ReliefThe perfect time to get outside for long walks in the neighborhood, hikes in the hills, and autumn gardening. But that "ah" can quickly become "ah-choo" if you're one of the 36 million Americans with seasonal allergy problems.

The runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion -- all typical fall allergy symptoms -- can slow you down and make you miserable. While there have been no dramatic advances recently in allergy treatment, experts say if you are allergy-prone, you can take a number of... Read the Seasonal Allergies: 4 Routes to Relief article > > What substances will the cleaner remove from the air in my home? What substances will it not? What is the efficiency rating of the cleaner in relation to the true HEPA standard? Will the unit clean the air in a room the size of my bedroom every four to six minutes? What is the device's clean air delivery rate (CADR)? The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers rates air cleaners according to their clean air delivery rates (CADR), which indicate how much filtered air the cleaner delivers. There are different CADRs for tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust. The higher the numbers, the faster the unit filters air. How difficult is it to change the filter?

(Ask for a demonstration.) How often does it have to be changed? How much do filters cost? Are they readily available throughout the year? How much noise does the unit make? Is it quiet enough to run while I sleep? (Turn it on and try it, even though you will probably be in a store and may not get a true sense of just how noisy it is.) Those with lung conditions such as emphysema or COPD might also consider buying an air filter, says Paul Enright, MD, research professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. But if you're a healthy individual living in a relatively unpolluted environment, there's no need to spend the money. Just remember, Enright says, that an air cleaning system is just one of the environmental changes you can make to alleviate symptoms. "There is no single appropriate answer to coping with allergies and asthma." Home Allergy Treatment Home 12 Natural Ways to Defeat Allergies Need Nasal Allergy Relief? 5 Tips to Cut Pet Allergies 10 Common Allergy Triggers