About ninety percent of Americans spend majority of their time indoors, without knowing that the air inside the home can contain potentially harmful airborne contaminants as much as air outside the home. These contaminants, more accurately called allergens, can aggravate asthmatic or allergic symptoms and cause lasting damage to health.

Some of the following airborne allergens are leading causes of allergies:

Non-allergic rhinitis is caused by irritants which do not involve the immune system but do affect the nasal passages. For example, there are also unpleasant odors that could irritate the nasal passages and cause the symptoms in allergic persons to act up. These are formaldehyde (a caustic agent), ammonia (pet and body odors), acetaldehyde (tobacco odors), paints, carpets, adhesives, and other pollutants. For young children, day care allergies are a concern since children's immune systems are vulnerable and allergens can easily spread from one child to another.

To keep indoor air healthy and allergen-free, an allergy relief air purifier in order. Below is a list of some of key components used in the leading allergy relief air purifier products.

Filters and Fans

The most common way to remove fine suspensions of particles or odors in the air - whether they be dust, animal dander, dead skin cells, is to trap those allergens on a filter, then throw the filter away. There are different types of filters - charcoal, fibrous, HEPA - all with different levels of effectiveness and efficiency. Typically, a fan pulls allergens and irritants into the filter where they are trapped and removed from the air. Not all filters are equal. The position of the allergy relief air purifier and fan operating settings contribute to the overall effectiveness.

Ionizers

Negative/positive ionizers use effect of the Law of Gravity to settle particles from the air. In this situation, an electrical device discharges trillions of ions which attach themselves to particles floating in the air. The charged particles attract one another like magnets and grow in size. Eventually, the once-microscopic particles become heavier than air and "settle" out like dust on a table top.

UV Light

UV light is often effective in sterilizing the air of bacteria and viruses, depending on the wavelength of the bulb and the distance to the contaminant. Since some UV radiation is harmful to the eyes, it is important to get a shielded device that is safe to use.

Friendly Oxidizers

An emerging and effective technology involves the use of "friendly oxidizers." These are substances like hydroxyl ions, gaseous hydrogen peroxide, and other super oxides that "burn up" contaminants like volatile organic chemicals and have an impact on microorganisms.

Other Considerations

Make sure to know what coverage is provided by the allergy relief air purifier. Coverage is often measured in square feet. For example, you may spend $150 for a unit that covers 200 square feet, which is a 20 foot by 10 foot room. Other devices that cover a whole home up to 3,000 square feet may be more cost-effective than fifteen of the 200 square foot models. Make sure that you have a reasonable warranty and that you won't have to pay more for filters than you did for the machine. That can be like buying a $5.00 razor and spending $100 on razor blades.

Always negotiate a risk-free in-home evaluation of an allergy relief air purifier to make sure it works for you and your situation. You may have to purchase the machine up front with a 30 or 60-day satisfaction guarantee, but it is worth it to get the right machine for your needs. No proof is better than experiencing an allergy relief air purifier that is right for you.