HEPA Filters Vs. Ionizers: Which Is Best For Allergy Reduction?

That’s a good question. Many people suffer from allergies as a result of poor indoor air quality in their rooms and offices. The air in our rooms and offices is often loaded with all kinds of allergy-aggravating particles like dust, dust mites, mold spores, pollen, etc. So, the logical thing to do is clean up the air. But there is some confusion as to whether ionizers or HEPA filters are better for allergy reduction, keeping pet dander down, etc.

Well, the answer is ‘yes’: it’s best to have both if you can, but if you can only choose one, choose the air purifier with a true HEPA filter. Here’s why: a true, certified HEPA filter has dense fabric-like woven fibers that have very small spaces in between where only air can pass through—true HEPA filters trap the very smallest particles, everything larger than 0.3 microns, which includes dust, dust mite parts, pet dander / pet hair, human hair, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and some viruses. Certified HEPA filters are designed to trap the particles that cause allergy problems, or allergy symptoms. Certified means AHAM certified (American Home Appliance Manufacturers Association); the filter has been tested by this independent testing group and certified to remove 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger.

Adding an ionizer is good because it can make the HEPA filter even more effective. As the ionizer releases ions in the air, the ions cause small particles (especially pet dander) to stick together, making them heavier and easier for the HEPA filter to trap. One thing to remember, however, is to choose an air purifier that does not produce ozone. Ozone has been proven harmful to humans/animals over and over, and it’s actually a respiratory irritant, which will only increase your allergy symptoms. The best ionizers produce only an OH- or hydroxyl ion, which has the same effect on particles, but is not harmful, and has actually been found to even help depression! Negative ions also destroy bacteria/viruses in the air so they tend to help keep colds and flu under control, as well.

The other very important thing to remember about HEPA filters is that you must replace them regularly, especially if you have indoor pets. When a HEPA filter becomes clogged, 2 main things begin to happen: 1) backflow / leakage of unpurified, allergy-aggravating air because some of the air drawn in cannot pass through, 2) the air purifier is stirring up air-and allergens—and with a clogged filter, it is blowing around polluted air, which can actually make allergy symptoms worse, and 3) increased energy costs / higher utility bills--as the air purifier is having to work harder to get the air through the clogged HEPA filter, more energy is used. Replacement of your HEPA filters ensures that you will continue to breathe clean healthy air, and reduces the chances of an allergy attack, and you’ll probably see a reduction in allergy medication costs.

You can find the replacement HEPA filters  (and high-quality allergy reduction air purifiers) you need right here at Air Purifiers and Cleaners.com.  We sell the very best quality certified allergy-reducing HEPA filters for many top brands, at lowest possible prices.  We can do that because we are an online store and don’t have the typical overhead of many other stores. So, we pass those savings on to you with the best discount prices AND free shipping. Check us out today and get those allergy symptoms under control! If you have any questions, please call us toll-free at 1-800-701-2513. We are here to help.

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What? My Air Purifier Is Making My Allergies Worse?

Most people buy an air purifier to clean up their indoor air and reduce allergy, asthma, or other respiratory symptoms. However, if you don’t change the filters regularly, your air purifier / air cleaner can actually make your allergies / asthma worse. Ever notice that your allergies / asthma improved when you first purchased your air purifier, and now your symptoms seem to be ‘back’ or even worse?  It’s probably the filters.

Why? Well, to start, when a HEPA air filter becomes clogged, air flow through a HEPA filter is greatly reduced, creating backflow or ‘leakage’ of polluted air at the seals and other openings. And your symptoms get worse because air is being blown around / stirred up now with allergens and asthma triggers, particles that would normally not be floating around as much or as high, such as up near the nose and mouth. And this problem is especially true with electrostatic air purifiers that are ‘filterless’ or contain a ‘permanent filter’. When the electrostatic rod becomes dirty, it attracts much less dirt/dust. And if the rod isn’t trapping the particles, all the fan is doing is simply blowing around / stirring up polluted air so you can breathe more of it. With clogged HEPA air filters or dirty electrostatic rods, it would be better to turn the unit off until you can clean it or replace the HEPA filter.

A similar thing happens with activated carbon air filters that have become saturated­­­ or 'filled up' with chemical compounds, vapors, odor compounds, etc. An air purifier with VOC, chemical vapor saturated activated carbon is now just pushing that polluted air through with nothing to remove the offending chemicals/compounds. This polluted air is being blown around for increased inhalation where less may have been inhaled if the polluted air wasn’t being constantly collected and blown around.

And yes, you can vacuum your HEPA filter to get some of the particles out, but it’s not going to extend the life of the filter very much, as most of the more dangerous micro-particles are trapped deep within the HEPA air filter’s fibers and not accessible by normal vacuuming, leaving the filter still mostly clogged. Washing a HEPA filter doesn’t work, either, as getting this HEPA material wet often distorts/blocks the ‘air channels’ and you end up with a HEPA filter that is just about as dirty, but with less air flow, and more back flow / leakage.

Some activated carbon or charcoal air filters are indeed, washable, allowing you to free up the carbon to absorb more chemicals / compounds. Some tips: 1) make sure the activated carbon or charcoal filter is actually a washable carbon filter, 2) make sure you allow the carbon filter to dry completely, and 3) make sure the carbon is evenly redistributed, not clumped together.

The real solution here is to change the air purifier’s filters on a regular basis, as indicated by the manufacturer.  Most of your best air purifier filters will last 2-5 years depending on how ‘dirty’ the air is.  You made a decision to breathe clean air in your home or office and bought an air purifier, so replace those used up air filters—because your health and how you feel every day is important, it’s worth it.

At Air Purifiers and Cleaners.com we sell the best replacement HEPA air filters, carbon filters, and pre-filters for many top brands at the best discount prices possible, and  we offer FREE shipping. Because we are an online store and don’t have the overhead of a traditional retail store, you pay less. If you don’t see the filter for your particular air purifier or air cleaner, give us a call—chances are, we can get it for you. 1-800-701-2513

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Whole House Air Cleaning Systems: Why They Can Be Better Than Room Air Purifiers, and Save You Money!

On the surface, a whole house air purifier system can seem like a big investment.  However, buying one whole house air cleaning system is far cheaper (and more effective) than buying an air purifier for each room. With a whole house system, you can rest assured that you, your family and guests have clean air in every room--for a lot less.

Good room air purifiers often cost $500-700 each, and each will have a set of filters to replace. With a whole house air purifier, you can spend $1000-1500 or so and have superior air cleaning in every room, and ONE set of filters to replace. BINGO! That makes sense.

Not to mention, just the savings from fewer allergy and asthma medication purchases are often enough to pay for the air purification system.  In fact, one of the best home remedies for asthma and allergies is to install a whole house air filtration system in your home, a purifier that attaches to the furnace or air conditioner. When all of the air in your home is free of dust, mold, bacteria, viruses, and other things that are often asthma triggers, you sleep better and overall, feel better every day.  Installing a whole house air purifier system also means less cleaning and mopping, which means fewer cleaning product purchases, too!  And, most whole house air purifier systems are actually portable--just unbolt the components from your central air conditioning system when you move.

All whole house air purifier systems are not the same, however. There are some home air purification systems that use ozone, which causes problems for humans, so stay away from those.  The best whole house air cleaners feature a true HEPA filter to remove over 99% of allergy/asthma triggering particles, activated carbon to remove chemicals and odors, and UV or ultraviolet light for extra protection from bacteria, viruses, and mold. The APC UV light air purification system below does not offer filtration, but has laboratory-strength UV bulbs that effectively kill bacteria, viruses, molds, etc. For best whole house or whole home air filtration, install UV or UVC / ultraviolet lamps in the ducts as well as attaching an air cleaner system to the furnace. 

How To Choose A Whole Home Air Purification System: First, make sure the filtration system  / purifier has a HEPA filter, activated carbon to remove odors/chemicals, and UV light to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold. Second, make sure the UV bulbs are 36 watt bulbs—any less wattage will not be as effective as an air cleaner.  Again, for best results, attach a home air purification system / purifier to your furnace or air conditioner and install a dual-bulb duct-mounted UV air cleaner. Third, regarding the price, consider having to purchase about 50% less medications and cleaning products and deduct that yearly amount from the price. You might find that the whole house air filtration system is actually quite affordable.

At Air Purifiers and Cleaners.com, we sell on the best whole house air purification systems at the best discount prices possible, with excellent warranties and free shipping.  We will help you determine what home air purification/filtration system is right for you and save you money in the long run. If you have any questions, please give us a call 1-800-701-2513. Our air purification experts are standing by!

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Dylos Air Monitors-Know For Sure.

Wonder if your air purifier or air conditioner filter is working, or how WELL it’s working? Or do you have dust or other particles floating in the air? Or does the vacuum cleaner filter need changing? With a Dylos Air Monitor, you can know for sure.

Air monitors or laser particle counters aren’t new, but what IS new is the price and features offered by Dylos. Dylos made laser particle counters affordable and easy to use for the consumer. Until now, air montors had been very expensive and only available to hospitals and laboratories. But now that they are affordable, these air monitors are getting more and more attention as a great way to really know if your air is clean…or not.

An air monitor or laser particle counter works by scattering laser light and when the light or beams are intersected, the computer counts that intersection as a particle floating in the air. The air monitor can also tell what size the particle is, too, which can let you know not only what it is, but also what type of filter may be needed to remove it.  You can literally put one of these air monitors in front of a vent or at the output of your air purifier and tell how well it’s working. Dylos Products offers an affordable DC 1100 air monitor specifically designed to test air purifiers.

Air monitors are also great for painting, woodworking, refinishers, auto body shops, etc as they can tell you whether the air has particles floating around that will mess up the paint job or not. Use them to test baby rooms for clean air. Air monitors are also great for testing the air inside or outside to see if you’re allergies are or will be acting up that day. Take an air monitor with you if you’re going to a new room or area and see if the air is free of particles or not.  And they can be used in legal cases to prove whether particles of a given size are or were present in a given situation.

Dylos air monitors offer incredible value and they’re portable—just take them with you and plug in and you’ll know for sure whether there is ‘something in the air’ or not.

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Cat Urine, Dog Smell, and Bird Odor--Why Do I Still Smell It?

You scrub, mop, vacuum and still…that dog, cat or bird odor is still there, and you still have allergies. Why is that pet smell still there, and what can be done to remove / eliminate the odor, and the allergies that go with it?!

Well, there is something that can be done. And you’re right if you think dander, smells, and allergies are connected, because they usually are. It may sound overly simplistic, but the main reason you still smell pet or cat urine, dog urine, bird ‘odor’, etc., even after using a variety of cleaners is very simple:  It is because the airborne particles and chemical molecules that cause pet odor and allergies are still there. Keep in mind that, like humans, an animal is always breathing (through the nose and through the skin) which releases odors as the chemicals in the exhaled air and gases from the skin evaporate.

Animals have scent glands and oils they use to mark territories, which release odor. Another source of odor is the the fact that dander and urine / scent oils are still lodged in carpets, couches, leather, between the tiles, at the edges of the flooring, etc. Cat and dog urine is especially concentrated and contains a large amount of waste ‘chemicals’ that are very hard to completely remove, even with the best cleaners. 

A surprising source of pet smell is cat and dog saliva. Dogs are always drooling, dripping saliva, and touching wet noses to things, and cats are constantly rubbing saliva on doorways, cabinets, furniture, other household objects, often when you’re not looking. That saliva, along with the scent oils in the skin around their whiskers, contains odors, chemicals, scent oils, dander, bacteria, etc—all things that create pet odor.  Birds are constantly moving their wings, releasing bird dust or dander into the air, too.
 
So unless you are cleaning your house from top to bottom, walls, carpets, couches, floors, etc., on a daily basis, the only logical way to truly control, eliminate, or remove pet smell  (and allergies) is to use pet air purifiers that are designed to remove the airborne dander, scent oils, saliva, urine, etc., that cause pet smells to linger.

Pet air purifiers have HEPA filters for removing over 99% of the dander/hair from the air, carbon filters to remove pet odors like cat urine smell, etc, and the best units also use healthy negative ions (not ozone) that destroy bacteria, help prevent particles/dander from floating around, and help neutralize smells.  One of the best, low cost pet air purifiers we have tested is the Winix WAC9500 Ultimate Pet Air Cleaner.This purifier has all of the features necessary for removing pet smells / odors, comes with a remote, automatic air sensors, filter change indicator, and more.  The Austin Air Pet Machine also does a great job of removing pet smells/odors/dander, etc, with a powerful HEPA filter and 15 pounds of smell/odor eliminating carbon.

So as you can see, to eliminate, remove, or control pet smells, it's a two-part process: surface cleaning and using a pet air cleaner.  And by using air purifiers designed for removing pet dander / odors / smells, you can actually reduce the amount of surface cleaning!

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