Indoor air quality can have a significant impact on your allergies. Using a HEPA filter in your home can help remove most airborne particles that could make allergies worse. But it's not just the air that can be a problem. Carpets, bedding, curtains, countertops, and tables can all be sources of allergens and irritants.
To reduce the risk of allergies, it's important to keep these areas clean and, where possible, eliminate the source of allergens and irritants. For example, the only effective way to keep tobacco smoke out of your home is to not smoke. Ozone generators should also be avoided as they can worsen allergy or asthma symptoms. According to the EPA and doctors, about 60% of asthma cases are caused by airborne particles such as dust, pollen, dander, and mold spores.
A good quality air conditioning filter can help reduce these air pollutants. However, a dirty air conditioning filter has the opposite effect. When the filter is full, its efficiency drops and pollutants are driven by cold air from the air conditioner throughout the house, causing asthma flare-ups. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that air purifiers with ionizers or UV light are effective for allergies.
Whole-house air filtration units that bring fresh air from outside and filter it before distributing it to the rest of the house may be more effective. Regular maintenance of air conditioning is essential for your family's health, especially for people with asthma and respiratory problems. Just as outdoor air quality affects your health, there is increasing evidence that indoor air quality can do so too. Households with carpets are a reservoir of allergens; every time someone walks or vacuums the carpet, the particles fill the air.
Air purifiers can help clean indoor air of microscopic dust, pollen, mold spores and other particles. When looking for an air conditioning filter or filter replacement, you should look for a filter that removes the smallest particles from the air. Normal family life with cooking, children playing and pets doesn't happen in sealed rooms, negating any additional benefits these filters may offer. If you have allergies, it's worth investing your time and a small additional cost to upgrade your HVAC filter to a HEPA filter.
