Air Allergies and Air Filters
Now that winter is ending, it is once again time to add pollen, along with year around dust (dust mites), to things making my nose run or congest up and breathing more difficult.
when I lived in a desert area, pollen was a nuisance, but no too bad of an irritant. But when I moved to Oregon, where plants grow and may flower at any time in generous proportions, pollen allergies (and mold allergies) can be a real nuisance. In Oregon, I learned that trees put out a lot pollen particles! And don’t even mention wildfires with their smoke and ash…
I decided to get an air filter for my home and not surprisingly, the first one I bought was a dud (despite reviews). It was poorly designed, I couldn’t tell if it was making a difference and it smelled like plastic chemicals right out of box as well as weeks later.
Live and learn. Thankfully, I found another air filter: the LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies. What a difference quality makes.
I have been using this air purifier for 2 years now and this is why I like it.
Simple design. The air purifier has a circular form and sucks up air to be filtered from sides all 360 degrees. The filtered air is then blown out from vents at the top’s circular rim. Even at its lowest setting, you can feel, with you hand, a strong air pressure from the air coming out. The size is relatively small compared to its cleaning power: 8.7″ x 8.7″ x 14.2″ size and weighs 7.48 lb. It is best used being placed on a surface above the floor.
Easy to use. Inside the top’s vent area is a touch screen to activate the air filter’s controls. It takes a touch to power on the machine and light up the display of “buttons.” You can select one of three fan speeds, set up a timer for 2, 4 or 8 hours. There is a sleep mode setting which runs the purifier at a low speed and a quiet 24 dB with the display lights off. I, personally, have not been bothered by the light at night – it is like having a night light on. Either way, you can have the filter on while you sleep – cleaning the air.
It is quiet. Even at the highest air filtering speed, I know the machine is on, but the noise doesn’t bother me.
A great filter system. The standard filter is tall and circular and contains three layers. The outer layer is a pre-filter that captures large particles such as dust, lint, fibers, hair, and pet fur. The second inner layer, an efficient filter that catches fine particles like pet dander, dust mites and airborne bacteria. The third layer is an activated carbon filter which physically absorb odors and fumes, such as smoke, cooking smells, and pet odors. It also filters out volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Easy to Change or Clean Filter. Cleaning: Every six weeks to two months, or more often depending upon your air quality, you should clean your air filter. This is easy to do. Unplug the machine. Next, turn the air purifier upside down, twist off the bottom (very easy) and take out the air filter. With a clean, dry cloth (I use a rag), step outside and gently swipe clean the accumulated debris on the outside of the filter surface. Replace the cleaned filter, twist back on the bottom lid, turn the purifier right side up, plug-in and your ready to go again.
Approximately every six months. it is recommended you change your filter. Again, the exact timing depends on air quality and use. Follow the same steps as above to remove the used filter and replace it with a new one. Tip: I always wear a dust filter when I clean and replace a filter.
By the way, while the unit comes with the standard filter that I have been talking about, the manufacturer does offer three other types of filters depending upon the home’s circumstances. There is a filter geared more towards anyone who smokes. A second alternate filter is designed for dealing with pet dander. And a third filter was designed to help with the air quality problems due to wildfires, either nearby, or from the smoke and ash that can spread to out hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.
Click here for more information about the LEVOIT Core 300 Air Purifier Replacement Filter.
It works. Since setting up this air filter in my bedroom, my allergy symptoms have dropped and my breathing is easier. During the day, I run the air filter a couple of hours with the bedroom door open to help clean the overall air in the house. The air filter purifies the air of a 1,095 ft² space once/hour according to the manufacturer’s specs.
Affordable. When I bought my LEVOIT Air Purifier on Amazon in 2022, the price was $89.95. Today, it’s list price is $99.99, although it is on sale for less than that. A replacement filter cost is $29.99, last time I purchased one, and that is the same price today – 4/28/24. I mention the prices, which obviously reflect today prices and probably will change over time, just to give you an idea of general costs. For me well within my budget for cleaner air to breath.
Should you get more than one? OF course, it depends upon your local air quality and the size of your house. My house is small and my air quality is usually great (except in fire season when it can vary wildly). One unit has sufficed, as it certainly has made a difference for us.
As we replace gas-powered cars with electric vehicles, use more solar and wind generated electricity and less oil,m coal and natural gas, and make other improvements in the quality of our environment, we may return to an era of clean air everywhere. Until then, I am using my my air purifier for cleaner air.
News About Home Air Quality
To Breathe or Not To Breathe
When Shakespeare’s Hamlet spoke
those immortal words I’ve parodied,
the Bard breathed cleaner air than we.
Wood smoke and ash, of course,
the effluvium of horse dung
and the stink of people filled
the air of London town and
Stratford upon Avon, still
pollution from the industrial thrall
was a century’s air away.
We face the debris of burning coal,
natural gas and oil,
other exotic factory fumes and pesticides,
plastic fibers, car tire wear, depleted soil,
the thickened skies of forest fires,
and pollen, too, to our lungs’ ire.
We’ll take in air, we must,
or otherwise give way to dust.
I long for that day when pure
water is again a throat’s delight,
clean air to breathe a natural right,
so pledge now to the ultimate sight
of a sustainable world paradise.
©2024 Carl Scott Harker, author of
An Engineer of Words
SAF Aranet4 Home: Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor
Available on Amazon |
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