This article on Home Living Handbook might contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on the site, we may earn a commission.
Maintaining the best possible indoor air quality is very important during allergy season, a time when airborne allergens can impact one's overall health in a matter of hours. For those with seasonal allergies or respiratory conditions, poor indoor air quality can exacerbate symptoms, making comfort and wellness a 24/7 challenge. To learn best practices for navigating allergy season, we connected with representatives at Trane Residential and Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to better understand features used in the best air purifiers, and what makes those features so important to our health.
"Indoor air quality (IAQ) can be improved by controlling pollutant sources and ensuring proper ventilation. The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program – a joint project of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and Allergy Standards Limited – tests products like air cleaners, vacuums, and filters to determine their ability to meet strict scientific standards relative to allergen reduction," shared Kenneth Mendez, the CEO and President of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. "Products are tested not only for their ability to reduce exposure to air pollution but also to ensure they don’t produce high levels of allergens or irritants themselves."
A representative from Trane Residential elaborates on the importance of choosing a trusted device. "Air cleaners or purifiers filter out allergy triggers and harmful particles that can cause asthma and allergy symptoms. These devices are crucial in scrubbing indoor air and eliminating common allergens such as pollen, dust particles, mold spores, and other microscopic particles. HEPA air purifiers emerge as a solid choice for those with asthma, known for their ability to remove approximately 98% of pollutants in the air, even particles as minuscule as 0.3-micron particles."
How do indoor allergies vary by region?
"AAFA’s annual Allergy Capitals™ report highlights the most challenging cities in the U.S. for living with allergies," cited Mendez. "The report analyzes the top 100 most populated U.S. cities and ranks them based on pollen count, over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine use, and access to specialists."
He adds, "This year, Wichita, Kansas earned the top spot in our report due to higher-than-average grass pollen and relatively low access to allergy specialists. The report notes that different pollens are more prevalent allergy triggers in different seasons. Tree pollen is the most common spring allergen, grass pollen in summer, and weed pollen in the fall. Wichita is an example of an area where one type of pollen (grass in this case) is more prevalent than other. While counts for ragweed and tree pollen are about average in Wichita, that city’s grass pollen count sends its overall ranking to the top."
Across North America, a wide range of factors are at play:
- Mold spores are more common in humid regions and homes with poor moisture control.
- VOCs, emitted from paint, building materials, and cleaning products, are prevalent causes of indoor air pollution.
- Combustion byproducts, including smoke from cooking, heating appliances, and tobacco products, are significant pollutants, especially in areas with higher rates of indoor smoking or wood stove use.
- Wildfire smoke is also an airborne pollutant. The areas impacted by wildfires are expanding due to climate change.
Choose Certified Products
"Choosing the best air purifier for your home requires careful consideration of several factors," added the representative from Trane. "To facilitate this process, we recommend checking product labels, understanding device specifications, and perusing air purifier reviews for insights from testers."
- Size: Ensure that the air purifier suits your room size by assessing its clean air delivery rate (CADR). A higher CADR indicates cleaner air, making it essential to match the device to the dimensions of the space. Larger rooms (more cubic feet) may benefit from air purifiers with a higher CADR.
- Fan Noise Output: First, recognize that top-quality air purifiers with multiple filters generate some white noise... actually, a full range of noise levels. Depending on the model and fan setting, sounds can range from a quiet hum at the lowest setting to a louder whoosh at its loudest noise levels. Opting for a larger unit for noise-sensitive individuals can offer effectiveness, energy efficiency, and a more quiet operation at lower fan speeds.
- HVAC Filter: When evaluating air filters for allergies and asthma, consider the type of furnace filter, ease of replacement, replacement frequency, and associated costs.
- Cost: Factor in both the initial price of the device and the electricity cost for its operation. While high-quality air purifiers can range from $50 to $1000, it's crucial to estimate the overall cost, especially if multiple devices are required for different rooms. Energy consumption should also be considered, with a calculation of potential impact on the electric bill.
- Ozone Output: Be aware of air purifiers that emit ozone, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Individuals with symptoms of asthma should carefully read product information and seek devices with no or low ozone output.
- AHAM Verification: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has monitored appliance standards since 1967. AHAM verification is crucial, as it ensures that air cleaners meet recommended room sizes and CADR rates, providing a reliable benchmark for shoppers.
Indoor Air Filters That Work
Looking for a portable air purifier that works? Compare the options, keeping in mind that some systems will treat your entire home, while others focus on a single room:
Air Rabbit Air3
The Air Rabbit Air3 is a powerful air purifier with a sleek design. It features a new Dual Hive Filter filter with offset carbon pellets that trap particulate pollution including animal dander, smoke, and odors. In the same product, smart sensors adjust fan speed based on the quality of air. The customizable front panel blends with any room (the Artist Series is very nice), and the extremely energy-efficient design keeps energy costs low without sacrificing performance. If you're comparing, consider the MinusA2 model, too. It uses a unique green tea filter to capture mold spores and airborne particles.
Windmill 3-in-1 Air Purifier
The Windmill 3-in-1 Air Purifier redefines clean air with style and smart technology. Available in bamboo, navy, or white, it fits effortlessly into any home. Its advanced 3-stage filtration system captures even the smallest particles, ensuring fresher air with a pollen CADR of 343. Powered by a quiet yet efficient DC motor, this purifier operates at a whisper-soft 16 dB, making it ideal for any room. The companion app lets you monitor air quality in real-time, set schedules, and even track trends. With two sleep modes—one for silence and the other for relaxing white noise at 47 dB—it’s designed to enhance both your air and your sleep. Energy Star certified for efficiency, it's a smart choice for healthier living.
Trane CleanEffects™ Whole Home Air Cleaner
Engineered for excellence, Trane CleanEffects™ Whole Home Air Cleaner surpasses standard counterparts by 100 times and is considered one of the best home HEPA air purifiers for the home. With advanced small particle filtration and the capacity to remove up to 99.98% of airborne irritants and trap airborne particulates as small as 0.3 microns in diameter, these systems provide a comprehensive approach to indoor air purification. "Our product is certified by the AAFA, making it a scientifically proven solution suitable for people with asthma, or pollen and pet allergies. With more than 60 million Americans suffering from indoor allergies, our certification provides a reliable mark of excellence," shared the representative.
Blueair Classic Pro CP7i
The Blueair Classic Pro CP7i uses HEPASilent technology to clean the air with less noise — fast, too. The brand measured that it cleans 580 square feet in 12.5 minutes and 2,800 in an hour. Certified as Asthma & Allergy Friendly®, it removes airborne contaminants including allergens, mold, smoke, and bacteria while using less energy than traditional HEPA filters. The smart app control lets you adjust settings from anywhere, and the LED display lights provide real-time air quality updates.
Rabbit Air's BioGS 2.0 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier
Rabbit Air's BioGS 2.0 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier only covers larger spaces up to 550 sq. ft, but its negative ion generator weighs down airborne particles, and its 4-stage air filtration and air deodorization sets it apart. In addition to its optimal performance, it has won many design awards, making it a product many consumers favor for main living spaces.
Airthings Renew Air Purifier
Airthings Renew delivers 4-stage filtering with two cleanable filters (one on the outside that traps hair from our furry friends and dust mites, and one on the inside for pollen) as well as two replacement filters including a HEPA-13 medical grade particle filter, and an active charcoal filter for odor reduction and to hold indoor gasses (VOC filtration). If you have severe allergies, we think you'll see a noticeable difference with this one. It connects via smartphone to the Airthings app for real-time remote control monitoring.
PuroAir 240
This air filter is one of Amazon's best-selling products if you need to purify your main living space, but can't install a whole home cleaner. It cleans rooms up to 1,115 sq. ft. in just over an hour, filtering 99.9% of smoke, pollen, allergens, dust mites, and odors down to 0.1 microns in size (not just larger particles). Also, it has user-friendly features including a system that automatically adjusts based on air quality, a timer option, and three different fan settings. The product is sold with one HEPA-14 240 filter with a high-efficiency activated carbon filter and pre-screen filter. Consumers can also level up to the PuroAir 400 model, which cleans rooms up to 2,145 sq. ft. in size.
An Indoor Air Quality Monitor Can Help, Too
From radon to the smoke particles from wildfire, air quality sensors that track indoor pollutant levels as well as humidity make it possible to enable timely action when a difference in air quality is detected. We use several Airthings products throughout our home: View Radon and View Plus Continuous Radon Monitors. Both have smart features. One in our basement and one in our main living area enables us to track air quality issues and levels of pollutants throughout the home.
