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Re: Air Cleaner for Michigan Woods Cat/Pollen Allergies

A Reader writes:

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

It is greatly appreciated to find someone that wants to take the time to share their personal experience for the benefit of strangers.

My doctor, after determining that I was allergic to cats, (we have two), suggested that we get a “HEPA air purifier” for our bedroom.

I thought okay $150 at Wal-Mart and we’ll be all set.

I started my research on the internet and quickly came to the conclusion that there are more manufacturers, sizes, types, prices and level of performances than I ever thought could exist.

After hours of research I was very confused until I came across your site. Your comments and reviews validated some of my “prospects” IQ Air, Blue Air, Rabbit and Austin Air.

I have learned over the years, I am 58, that buying quality first will save you from buying again and will provide you with more satisfaction.

I also work very hard for our greenbacks and do not want to overspend. But in our case is buying an IQ Air Pro Plus overkill?

We live in the woods in northern Michigan. My wife suffers from some undetermined airborne allergies as well - pollen for sure. Our bedroom including the attached bathroom and walk-in closet is 336 sq ft.?

Does one lose the benefit of the air purifier if the windows in the room where you are operating the purifier are open?

Does the bedroom door have to be closed to achieve the benefit of the unit?

Is there a benefit of operating the unit in an area that is much larger than the suggested coverage rating?

Other than the bedroom the rest of our house is quite open, including a combined kitchen living area with a 18 foot cathedral ceiling..

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

A Reader.

Ed's Reply

Hey Reader;

see my general remarks on pet allergy and pollen sensitivity on this page: Allergy and Air Purifiers

"Cat dander" can be as small as 0.1 micron does get airborne, but the majority of cat allergies are caused by proteins in saliva on fur - cats groom themselves by extensive licking.

So cat allergens are not primarily inhaled from the air - molecular sized allergens are transferred by touching the cat or anything it gets near.

Depending on your degree of sensitivity, this could include family members who have touched the cat.

Our hands frequently touch our faces, mostly unconsciously. So the itchy eyes/nose get scratched, transferring more of the allergen.

Keeping the cats out of the bedroom - some report success with baby gates - and fastidious washing of hands and frequent changes of clothing might be a start.

Pollens are generally fairly large, so that a cheaper air cleaner can, where the pollen is large, do almost as well as a premium unit.

So the IQAir might be overkill for your situation. Assuming the interior is free of chemicals, you may not need the more expensive heavy carbon filters in your sylvan location.

The open window bit depends on outside air quality - which will include pollens in season.

I keep my rural cabin wide open, with an upstairs exhaust fan running, most of the year (except oak pollen season and January freezes).

This lets in some dust, but few toxins. At the Houston apartment, and during the winter at the cabin, incoming air is filtered at the window using both particle and chem filters.

In both cases, I run air purifiers very close to where I sleep and work.

I am very sensitive to carbon dioxide buildup during sleep, so I close bedroom doors only when it is necessary to contain heat.

Many folks misunderstand the concept of room size.

An air purifier creates a zone of cleaner air around itself, with the cleanest air within five or six feet from the machine. This is an inverse square relationship, with air quality declining rapidly as distance increases.

There is certainly a benefit to installing an air purifier in too big a space, but the benefit is MUCH smaller than that obtained in an area which matches the air cleaner's actual capacity - often substantially smaller than manufacturer's claims.

So, while the IQAir will reduce particulate in a large space, you are better off with three $350 air purifiers placed near your life zones - sleep first, study/entertainment generally next.

Since you have a large and irregular open space, and your health issues are not life-threatening, why not try a mid-priced particle-focused unit in the bedroom first?

(Those with serious health issues should go straight for the IQAir, installed near the bed.)

I like the Rabbit Air 421A for your situation - it is fairly priced, good quality, and backed by top customer service including reasonably-priced and always-available filters.

The cat problem is likely to persist, even for a while after the cat is removed. So don't expect a miracle from any air cleaner.

Every spring here in Texas, my oak forest lets down a blanket of yellow pollen. It covers everything like a light layer of snow. This stuff will come indoors on hair, clothing, and shoes, as well as pouring in through any open window.

I have my washer/dryer on an outside porch, and often remove clothing there to avoid bringing the outdoors in. The above mentioned window filters (article coming) are very helpful at allowing air in while excluding pollen and wintertime wood smoke from the neighbors.

Of course, this will not be practical in northern latitudes, but you get the idea - source control is critical to air cleaner effectiveness.

In your statement;

"buying quality first will save you from buying again and will provide you with more satisfaction."

you echo the message of this website.

Best wishes,

Ed

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