We at various times in our lives can get allergies, especially this time of year, as they’re caused by the exposure to pollution, this either from a particulate form such as pollen, or chemicals such as polyvinylchloride. The results of these exposures to a pollutant, if the body is allergic, can vary dramatically.
Getting hay fever, such as sneezing in the morning can be a mild reaction to the pollen, while more extreme instances can be cases such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, which can completely debilitate the sufferer.
So what needs to be solved are ways to reducing the various symptoms caused by these allergies. The best solution it’s found is to purify the immediate area, the most effective source being portable air purifiers.
The initial process when reducing any allergic symptom is to eliminate the source of the pollution. A typical air purifier however, isn’t usually able to keep up with an active source of pollutant.
Why Purifiers Always Don’t Work
For instance, although a home air purifier is able to reduce the smell of the cigar smoke in this case, it won’t be effective while a cigar is still being smoked in the room.
Also, surfaces along with other materials which might harbor the pollutant, such as the walls, carpet, drapery, upholstery, etc., needs to be completely cleaned or even eliminated from the environment.
The reason being that all these items will absorb and then continue to return all the accumulated pollutants directly back into the environment.
If there’s also a forced air system that’s in the home or office, the filter needs to be changed regularly, while routine duct cleaning is also usually required, this particularly in older homes and offices.
Often, these steps will remove the offending pollutants, which also allows the allergy sufferer to find relief, this usually without the use of an air purifier.
How Air Purifiers Work
The technology utilized in the majority of the air purifiers is quite simple in nature. A box that’s housed with a fan, either mechanical or electronic, which blows the pollutants from the airflow that’s passing though the box.
So understanding how to use an air purifier most effectively is knowing how they work, which is that it’s just the air that’s passing though the box that’s purified.
So if you have an extremely large or long room, you’re better off with using several smaller air purifiers at either end, this rather than using one large unit strategically aimed to absorb the air.
The Type Of Air Purifier To Use
The technology of the air purifier to use, should be determined by what type of pollutant that you’re attempting to remove. Adsorption media such as zeolite or activated carbon, for instance, will effectively remove chemical pollutants.
Electronic and HEPA based technologies will remove particulates, while UV technology will will disable microorganisms. Most often, these technologies are used in a combination with one another.
To Eliminate Pollen
Pollen is considered a particulate pollutant, which is best addressed by using an electronic or a HEPA based system. HEPA is a highly effective method, but the filters needs to be replaced once every 6-months to several years, this depending on the manufacturer and the severity.
The filter elements on electronic devices don’t need to be changed, but usually requires routine cleaning to remain effective. Both of these technologies usually uses an activated carbon filter, varying from pounds of media to a thin mat format.
Since pollen is a particulate, there’s no concern when it comes to the activated carbon, while you shouldn’t expect much from the activated carbon mats. What they don’t offer is enough exposure to effectively remove the chemicals or odors.
Other Allergies
Allergies from microorganisms is of particular concern for those who may have weakened or damaged immune systems, this particularly for children or the elderly.
The most effective way of addressing the spread of microorganisms is by the use of UV lighting in the air purifier. What this light does is it affects the DNA of the organism, keeping it from reproducing, usually killing it.
UV light technology is typically used in conjunction with HEPA technology, this so that the air is clean of particulates, which would usually shade the microorganisms from the UV radiation.
Chemical pollutants which causes allergies are removed from the air by a process known as adsorption. A media such as activated carbon is used, which covers tremendous areas of surface.
Once the chemical encounters the media, what they do is adhere to it and coats it, which will then effectively remove the airborne chemicals.
While activated carbon is the best general purpose media, there are other solutions which has been recently developed, which addresses specific chemical compounds.
Knowing The Particulars
So what becomes helpful is knowing which particular compounds that you’re attempting to target for removal, and it’s best to communicate this with the source, this to get the proper mixture to address your particular issue.
Much like the UV process, HEPA is also usually used in combination with the adsorbing media. What this does is it assures that the media doesn’t become clogged with the particulate pollution, making it less effective.
To Effectively Remove Allergens
The first step, the initial defense when it comes to removing airborne allergens, is to remove the source of the allergen itself, along with anything else that will retain it.
It’s then recommended to pick the proper technology which is the most effective with the specific type of allergen that’s encountered. The final step is applying the air purifier in such a way to direct or maximize the air that’s filtering though the unit.