woman blowing nose next to box of tissues

There are more than 50 million people just in the U.S. that suffer from nasal and respiratory allergies and it’s the 6th leading cause of chronic illness. If you’re on the those 50 million allergy sufferers, you’ve probably found yourself asking the question, “Do air purifiers help with allergies?” We have all the answers you need to live comfortably here.

Do Air Purifiers Help With Allergies?

A 2018 study found that a HEPA air purifier in a bedroom worked to improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It did this by reducing the concentration of particulate matter and house dust mites in the air. The people using air purifiers with HEPA filters noticed that allergy symptoms decreased significantly.

An air purifier can help with allergies best when it uses a True HEPA filter. This filter is the only kind that can remove 99.97% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns in size which includes pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust, and other microscopic allergens. As for what are HEPA filters made of to make them so efficient, the secret is an interwoven mesh of fibers made out of glass or plastic. This design allows air to flow through while trapping microscopic pollutants.

What Triggers Indoor Allergies

It’s good for you to know what may be triggering your indoor allergy symptoms.

Not all allergies are caused by the same thing(s). Some people have a hypersensitivity to one type of allergen while others are aggravated by multiple particles inside the home.

Those most common indoor allergy triggers include:

  • Pollen
  • Mold and Mildew
  • Dust and Dust Mites
  • Tobacco Smoke
  • Pet Dander
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – which are present in carpeting, furniture materials, paints, glues, and cleaning agents
  • Insects

Since these things are found in virtually every home, it makes sense why so many people experience year-round allergies.

Additionally, these particles can’t be seen by the naked eye and it’s often hard to tell which one (or more) is the root cause of your allergic reactions. Therefore, it’s best to protect yourself against exposure to all types of allergens and not take any chances.

Tips for Using Air Purifiers for Allergies

The problem with indoor allergens is that they float around your home and eventually make their way into the carpet, bedding, drapes, upholstery, and your clothing. And every time you walk across your floor, lay down, or disturb one of these areas, it sends the trapped allergens back into the air for you to breathe in. That’s why your allergies often flare up out of the blue.

If you choose the right air purifier, it can clean your home’s air of a large portion of the allergy triggers we mentioned above. These devices can also get rid of odors which are another thing that can irritate your sinus and respiratory tracts and make you feel worse.

However, there are some things you need to keep in mind before making a purchase. There are many other factors to consider.

Not Just Any Air Purifier Will Do

An air purifier is only as good as it’s filter and if you don’t get the right filter, you won’t experience any allergy relief while at home.

The secret is to find one that’s equipped with a True HEPA filter. This filter is specially designed to catch and trap 99.97% of microscopic allergens down to 0.3 microns in size. That’s 7x smaller than a human hair. However, even the best air purifier with washable HEPA filter cannot trap pollutants that small. So it’s best to get an air cleaner that uses a replaceable filter for the highest efficiency.

Additionally, there are ionic air purifiers on the market that claim to remove airborne allergens. However, in our article on how do ionic air purifiers work, we explain that these units can effectively remove most allergen particles but they’re not as efficient as True HEPA air purifiers which lock the particles into a dense filter material.

Air Purifier Size is Also Important

Just buying an air purifier and sticking it into a room isn’t going to work. You need to make sure that the device is sized correctly for the room you want to use it in. If the air purifier is not powerful enough, then it won’t be efficient at removing those allergens.

To get the right size air purifier, all you have to do is figure out the square footage of the room you’ll be placing it in and match it up to a product that will cover that size space. Most manufacturers list this room coverage rating on the device so you can quickly determine if it’s the right fit.

See our basic steps for how to choose the right size air purifier.

One Air Purifier May Not Be Enough

Another thing you’ll want to keep in mind when buying an air purifier is the fact that it will only work in the room you have it running in. For example, if you have an air cleaner in your living room then you’ll get allergy relief in that space. But if you go to your bedroom and you don’t have an air purifier in that area then you won’t feel the relief while you’re sleeping.

Ideally, you want to have an air purifier in each room of your home that you spend the most time. For most people, this is the living room and bedroom. If you severe allergies and spend a lot of time in an office or basement as well, then you’ll want to consider putting an air cleaner in those locations too. Put plainly, the more rooms you have an air purifier in, the more relief you’ll get from your allergy symptoms throughout your entire house.

Our Top Pick: VEVA 8000

do air purifiers help with smell

The VEVA 8000 air purifier is our top pick for a reason.

Its true HEPA filter captures tiny particles and the premium pre-carbon filter absorbs smells. It will remove all household odors such as smoking, cooking and pet smells, leaving your indoor air fresh and clean.

Better yet, the VEVA 8000 is user friendly to operate and periodically replace the filters. It also comes with suction cups and a detachable base so you can put it on your shelf for additional storage. It even captures up to 325 square feet.

The VEVA 8000 consistently gets high marks due to its value — it’s a high-quality air purifier at a budget-friendly price point.

View VEVA 8000 on Amazon

 

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that air purifiers can help with relief from allergies, as long as it meets certain criteria. If you’re an allergy sufferer, remember these key notes when looking for your next air purifier:

  • Air purifiers are a great way to reduce indoor allergy triggers.
  • To remove 99.97% of allergens, the air purifier must use a True HEPA filter.
  • The air purifier must be sized properly so it can cover the square footage of the room you want to use it in. Otherwise, it won’t be as effective.
  • For the best allergy relief, you’ll want an air purifier in every room you spend a lot of time in (i.e. living room, bedroom, basement, or office).