HEPA Air Filtration for Allergies
HEPA filters have been used for years to help those with air-borne allergies breathe a little easier, but what exactly is a HEPA filter and how do they work? Whether you are looking for a small air purifier to keep your work-related allergies at bay, or an entire home system for more severe and chronic allergies, HEPA systems are the most efficient allergen-filtering products on the market.
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Allergies
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An allergy means your immune system tends to adversely respond to a specific protein in your environment. These proteins, otherwise known as allergens, can cause skin or respiratory problems in otherwise healthy people. An allergic reaction can manifest itself as an itching of the skin, a swelling of your nasal passages, wheezing, anaphylactic shock and death.
What Is HEPA Filter?
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HEPA, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, is a high-density, flat filter made from randomly placed fiberglass fibers. HEPA filters capture sub micron particles at an accuracy of 99.97 percent to 99.99 percent of allergens 0.3 microns in size. These particles, related to dust, mold, airborne chemicals, pet dander, pollen and smoke, cannot be captured using standard air filters.
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Types of HEPA Filters
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HEPA filter systems can be used in your furnace or attached to an HVAC unit, which circulates air throughout your home. Portable, room-sized HEPA filtration systems are great for your office, if work-place allergens have you reeling. You can even purchase HEPA filters for your automobile, to keep your vehicle's interior allergen-free. Some vacuum cleaners even come with HEPA filter attachments.
Most Effective HEPA Filters
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The most effective HEPA filtration systems on the market tend to have multiple filters and pre-filters, so that nearly every single particle is captured. Austin Healthcare Mate has a carbon filter and two pre-filters. None of the filters have to be changed for three to five years. The IQ Air HealthPro Plus features a hyper HEPA filter, which traps particles smaller than 0.3 microns and a carbon filter; however, the filters need to be changed every six to 18 months. BlueAir 403 Air Purifier it captures 99.97 percent of 0.1 micron particles and works more quietly than the other brands, while the AllerAir 5000 Exec Air Cleaner features a four-way filtration system with a carbon filter to remove awful smells from the air.
How Other Filters Compare to HEPA
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Electrostatic air filters also help to clean the air in your home, but they tend to produce ozone, which can be harmful to those with allergies.
Gas-phase absorption air filters do not trap contaminants, rather the filters work to convert the contaminants into harmless compounds. Their non-toxic and non-hazardous media, generally created using carbon and other compounds, can be custom-designed to target specific air impurities. Electrostatic and gas-phase absorption filters fail to meet HEPA standards, making them 50 percent less effective at ridding the air of allergens than HEPA filters.
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References
- Photo Credit sick woman with a laptop image by forca from Fotolia.com
