If you're currently dealing with a scratchy throat, itchy eyes, and a sniffly nose, there's a high chance that you're frantically Googling: 'Does an air purifier help hay fever?' and 'Does an air purifier help allergies?' After all, these appliances have become the talk of the town in recent years.
The good news is that the best air purifiers are a worthy addition to any household as they can remove airborne pollutants, impurities, and even odours. But those who struggle with seasonal (and year-round) allergies probably want more insights on whether this appliance can actually make a difference to hay fever and allergy symptoms.
That's why I've reached out to air quality experts to see whether this popular appliance is a surefire way to allergy-proof your home. The answer? An air purifier can help with hay fever and allergies, but only under certain conditions.
Does an air purifier help hay fever and allergies?
The short answer? Yes, an air purifier does help with hay fever, and an air purifier can help with allergies! However, the long answer is that air purifiers can only help with hay fever when you choose the right kind.
While air purifiers can get rid of dust for those with allergies to dust (which is surprisingly more common than you'd think), reduce pet dander for those with animal allergies and remove airborne pollutants from your home, it’s important to realise that no air purifier is 100% effective at removing these contaminants from the air. It also won't cure your allergies; but it may reduce your symptoms and make your home more allergy-friendly.
This is especially true when thinking about hay-fever-inducing pollen, as these pollen particles are minute. In fact, they’re generally about 15-100 microns in size.
This means that they can easily fit through the cracks in your windows and hitch a ride on your pets, ultimately making their way into your home in the process. And most air purifiers only have the ability to remove 99.97% of airborne pollutants from the air - with most models filtering down these pollutants to 0.3 microns in size.
Some higher-end, higher-quality models, like the Blueair Blue Max 3250i Air Purifier, can filter down to 0.1 microns, but this is very rare. Because of this, an air purifier will only help with allergies if you choose the right one. If you don’t, you may find that it doesn’t make a difference at all.
This is echoed by Chris Michael, Managing Director of Meaco. He says, ‘Pollen is a fine powdery substance. Not all air purifiers are built to effectively capture and trap such small particles. To be sure of removing most of the particles from the air, you need to choose a unit that has a HEPA filter.’
What to look for in an air purifier for allergies and hay fever
1. The CADR
If you want to buy an air purifier to help with allergies, you need to look at the specs. After all, air purifiers are all so different. Most importantly, you should look at the recommended room size and the CADR rate (Clean Air Delivery Rate). This should also help you decide how many air purifiers you need in your home.
Lars Dunberger, head of technology at Blueair, explains, ‘The CADR shows how many cubic meters the air purifier will clean every hour. The higher the CADR value, the more air it cleans in an hour.’ And if you’re using an air purifier for a specific allergy - i.e., for pet dander or to combat rising pollen levels - opting for a higher CADR value will suit you best.
2. The ACH
Alongside the CADR number, you should also keep an eye out for the ACH value. This stands for Air Changes per Hour, which measures how many times the air purifier replaces the total volume of air in the room with fresh, filtered air over a 60-minute period. Again, the higher the better.
Johnny Liang, Air Purifier Specialist at Levoit, advises, ‘For households with pollen allergies, pets, or exposure to poor outdoor air quality, increasing ACH to around 4.8–5 times per hour is recommended for more thorough air cleaning.’
3. The filter type
I've already mentioned HEPA filters, which are High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters and are used to catch these minute particles. In most cases, they can catch upwards of 99.97% of pollutants from the air. Because of this, it’s important to choose an air purifier with a HEPA filter if you want to help with hay fever.
Chris adds, ‘These filters are extremely fine, so can trap smaller particles than general air purifiers. If the HEPA filter has captured the pollen then the person with the allergy cannot be breathing it in! Choosing the right size HEPA air purifier for the room space alongside any treatment or medication you have for the allergy problems in your household, should help remedy symptoms.’
To ensure an air purifier is continuously helping your allergies, it’s also important to replace an air purifier filter regularly to keep it working as effectively and as efficiently as possible.
4. The physical size
Placement is everything when it comes to the effectiveness of an air purifier. This is echoed by Lars, who states, ‘Placing an air purifier in rooms where you spend the most time, like the bedroom or living room, can drastically improve your air quality during this critical time of year.’
Because of this, it's important to think about the physical size of this appliance before you use an air purifier to help with hay fever or other allergies. You need to make sure that you have the space to keep it in those important rooms.
In some instances, it may make more sense to buy multiple air purifiers so multiple rooms are covered at the same time.
The best air purifiers for hay fever and allergies
FAQs
Is it worth getting air purifier for allergies?
Yes! Although it won’t be able to get rid of your allergies completely, an air purifier can relieve the symptoms of your allergies by removing these particles (such as pollen and pet dander) from the air.
As a result, you may find it easier to breathe, your eyes aren’t as itchy, you’re less congested, and you’ll have to take less over-the-counter allergy medication.
Just remember that you’ll need an air purifier with a HEPA filter if you want to experience the best results.
How long does it take for an air purifier to help with allergies?
How long an air purifier takes to help with allergies ultimately depends on many things, including the size of the room, the amount of allergens present, and the air purifier itself. However, on average, you should expect a high-quality air purifier to start helping with allergies within 30 minutes of turning it on.
It’s important to note that air purifiers can’t cure hay fever or other allergies, though. That’s why it’s so important to consistently use this appliance if you want to continually feel the effects.
Do air purifiers help with nasal congestion?
If you suffer from nasal congestion, there’s a high chance that you are allergic to something. If this is the case, using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help to ease your symptoms. That’s because the air purifier will remove around 99.97% of the allergens from the air, hopefully improving your breathing at the same time.
However, you also may want to consider the air purifier vs humidifier debate, as you may find that the extra moisture in the air will help to loosen your nasal passages and ease your congestion. If this doesn’t help, you should seek advice from your doctor.
If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, an air purifier will soon become your best friend.
