The Benefits of HEPA Filters for Allergy Season
Allergy season typically happens in the springtime, but many people experience allergies year-round, even in the winter. In fact, it makes perfect sense that you might be experiencing allergies during the cold season since you’re probably spending more time indoors with dust mites, mold, and pet fur/dander, all in close proximity.
Let’s talk about how you can leverage air purification technology to better manage the air quality in your home during not just allergy season but all year long. More specifically, we’ll look at the importance of using a purifier that’s built with HEPA filtration.
Read our blog, Are Your Pets Polluting the Air in Your Home?
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Not all air purifiers are built the same, so we’ll focus on how Sans filters the air you breathe.
The Sans air purifier achieves crystal clear air through four layers of elite filtration:
- Pre-filter
- Activated carbon filter
- Medical-grade HEPA 13 filter
- UV-C light
Each layer serves a specific purpose. For example, the pre-filter has the important job of filtering bigger particles, like hair and fur. This is where a good bulk of the work is done. The activated carbon filter contains a full pound of carbon to absorb chemicals, odors, and gases. UV-C light neutralizes dangerous pathogens that can make you sick, like mold, viruses and bacteria.
Similarly, the medical-grade HEPA 13 filter has a crucial job to do. Let’s spend a little more time talking about that filter individually.
What Makes a Medical-grade HEPA 13 Filter Special?
First, let’s understand what HEPA filtration is, in general.
HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” This type of filter has the capacity to remove at least 99.95% of particles down to 0.1 microns in size, which is the most penetrating particle size and can enter deep into the lungs and bloodstream. This includes dust, mold, bacteria, and anything else airborne.
What’s the significance of the number 13? Well, the higher the number, the more powerful the filter will be. So, a HEPA 13 filter will be more effective than a HEPA 10 or 12 filter, which traps closer to 95% to 99% of particles down to 0.1 microns in diameter. (To compare, a HEPA 13 filter can trap 99.95%.)
These numbers might not seem all that different, but when it comes to air filtration, even a fraction of a percentage makes a difference, especially when it pertains to your allergy symptoms and other respiratory issues.
Tying It All Together: Why Does It Matter?
Let’s get back to air purifiers and your allergies.
Without a medical-grade HEPA 13 filter, allergens that are triggering your symptoms — like pollen, mold/mold spores, dust/dust mites, fur, and dander — won’t be filtered by the device and will continue to wreak havoc on your health. Your itchy eyes, runny nose, and constant sneezing will persist. No amount of vacuuming, dusting, and disinfecting comes close to the power of a HEPA 13 filter (although keeping your house clean certainly does help). Even the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes the difference that HEPA filtration can make.
Read our blog, Reducing Allergens in Your Home: Tips and Tricks.
Other brands and models of air purifiers might boast a pre-filter and activated carbon filter. They might talk about a special patented technology that targets and neutralizes allergens. But the gold standard, the Cadillac of air purification, is the medical-grade HEPA 13 filter. Without it, your air quality will suffer, plain and simple.
Do I Need to Run My Air Purifier All Day Long?
Here’s the great news about the Sans air purifier: It monitors your air quality in real time and auto-detects when it should and shouldn’t run, based on that. You don’t have to lift a finger.
So, if it’s a particularly dusty day, or the wind is carrying pollen far and wide, or you’re dog-sitting and your home is full of fur, Sans knows what to do.
How Often Should I Clean the Filters?
Technically, never! This is because Sans utilizes replaceable filters, not washable ones. This is yet another important distinction between different brands of air purifiers.
Replaceable filters might sound like a nice money-saver. However, here’s the problem. Imagine your allergy symptoms have significantly eased. That’s because the filters are doing their job.
Now, imagine you remove and wash the filters with your own two hands. What do you suspect will happen? All the allergens and other particles in there could end up on you and back in the air you breathe.
Even if this wasn’t the case, washable filters are typically very hard to get truly clean and lack the effectiveness of HEPA.
That’s why we’re huge proponents of replaceable filters.
How Big of an Air Purifier Do I Need?
This should be based on the square footage of your home (or wherever you plan to place the purifier.)
Sans can clean up to 1,560 square feet in an hour. We also offer the Sans Mini, which cleans up to 490 square feet. This is perfect for larger rooms, dormitories, small apartments, and even offices.
We suggest placing your Sans air purifier in a more high-traffic area, like the living room or kitchen — wherever you and your family spend more of your time.
Stopping Allergens With HEPA Filtration
Your allergies might be a mere nuisance. Or, they could seriously be affecting your quality of life. If there’s any place you should feel your best, it’s in the comfort of your own home.
With the power of medical-grade HEPA 13 filtration and Sans’ multi-layer defense against air pollution, you can get a better handle on your allergies 24/7/365. Learn more about the Sans air purifier today.