Do Air Purifiers Help Get Rid of Dust Mites? We Find Out

Almost no home is exempt from the inevitable invasion of dust mites. We clean and we scrub, but dust mites prosper and carry on in our homes like they own the place. Do air purifiers help get rid of dust mites?

Air purifiers are effective at eliminating dust mite allergens within the air. Dust mite allergens consist of dust mite feces and body parts which are stirred into the air and inhaled into the lungs. These allergens can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, coughing, and severe asthma attacks.

Do Air Purifiers Help Get Rid of Dust Mites? We Find Out
The air you breathe may not be as safe as you think it is.

Although air purifiers do not kill dust mites, they do effectively eliminate the dust mite allergens within the air.

Taking the steps to purify the air in your home will help to ensure better health for you, your family, and your pets.

With the allergens in the air, the unfortunate pollutants from the outdoors that seep inside, and even viruses, today more than ever we need to care about the air quality in our homes.

Do Air Purifiers Help Get Rid of Dust Mites?

If you are asking yourself this question, then you realize and have accepted that you have dust mites in your home.

Do air purifiers help get rid of dust mites?

Air purifiers do not get rid of dust mites. Dust mites will still live on your bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets. Air purifiers will reduce the byproduct of dust mites known as allergens that can be stirred up into the air by walking on carpets, moving bedding, or rustling around on furniture.

Air purifiers are wonderful little machines that are capable of purifying the air in a room and eliminating allergens for better health.

These airborne particles include such things as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, VOCs, and odors from pets.

Related Article: Dust mite carcasses and feces are significant contributors to the dust in our homes. It’s true folks. Does Dust Come Out of Air Vents? What You Need to Know

Unfortunately, air purifiers will not get rid of dust mites and can only help in reducing dust mite allergens from the air.

There are ways to help get rid of dust mites, so keep reading as we uncover the secret to eliminating dust mites once and for all.

Are Air Purifiers Safe?

In order to answer this question, we first need to break down the different types of air purifiers.

Let’s first go over ozone air purifiers, and then we will research the ins and outs of ozone-free air purifiers.

Ozone air purifiers take oxygen from the air and give it a strong electrical charge. This process can clean odors such as the smell of smoke and eliminate mold.

These effective machines are used in hotels, hospitals, and homes.

Ozone air purifiers intentionally emit ozone, and consumers may not be aware of the side effects of ozone exposure.

Ozone can harm the cells in the lungs and respiratory airways by irritating and inflaming the lining of the respiratory system.

Symptoms of ozone exposure include coughing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and trouble breathing.

Ozone can worsen asthma or contribute to the development of asthma. Prolonged exposure to ozone may cause permanent lung damage and an increased risk of dying if already in poor health.

Children, the elderly, and asthma sufferers are especially vulnerable to exposure to ozone.

Do all air purifiers emit ozone? How do we avoid ozone, formaldehyde, and/or other chemical byproducts that seep from these air “purifying” systems?

We have good news. You can buy an air purifier that is ozone-free, and fortunately, they don’t have to break the bank.

The mechanical-only air purifiers are entirely safe for everyone and also effective for filtering airborne pollutants.

So are air purifiers safe? They can be as long as you stay clear of the air cleaners that emit harmful ozone into the air.

Courtesy of The United States Environmental Protection Agency.

What is an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)? Ultimate Resource Learn how an energy recovery ventilator helps capture indoor humidity, odors, and pollutants such as chemicals, pollen, and smoke particles.

Are Air Purifiers Safe for Pets?

The same safety measures we take for ourselves should be taken for our beloved pets.

Ozone air purifiers have been shown to cause respiratory effects from exposure to ozone.

Birds are especially sensitive to the effects of air pollutants, including ozone.

The good news is, that we simply just need to steer clear of air purifiers that emit ozone.

How Much Does an Air Purifier Cost?

With so many brands of air purifiers and so many optional features to choose from, the costs of an air purifier can range significantly.

Finding an air purifier within your budget should be relatively easy to do, depending on the features you want and the ones you can live without.

Before we dive into the costs of air purifiers, we first need to go over a few things.

It’s important to understand CADR. CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate.

CADR is an established standard for rating air purifiers and helps consumers compare which air purifiers perform better than others.

CADR measures the effectiveness of an air purifier based on room size and the volume of clean air produced per minute.

Pollutants tested and removed from the air are the three most common: dust, pollen, and smoke.

Basically, the higher the CADR rating on the air purifier, the better the product.

Related Article: 11 Ways to Get Rid of Dust in Your House

The following chart will give you an idea of the minimum level of CADR that a room will require to effectively purify the air.

Keep in mind this chart is based on standard 8-foot ceilings.

Recommended CADR Based on Room Square Footage:

Room Square FootageRequired CADR
10 x 1065
11 x 1178
12 x 1293
13 x 13109
14 x 14126
15 x 15145
16 x 16165
17 x 17186
18 x 18209

Understanding CADR will empower us to purchase the most bang for our buck.

However, there is another price consideration we need to think about when researching our air purifier options. Filters.

Not only will you have the upfront cost of an air purifier, but be prepared to replace its filter once or twice a year. The costs of replacement filters vary, and they aren’t cheap.

Some air purifiers have more than one filter that needs to be replaced, so keep that in mind, as well.

Filter costs range widely from $90 to $200, depending on the model and CADR rating you purchase.

And although energy-efficient, air purifiers incur energy costs that range roughly between $30 to $90 per year.

Air purifiers can range anywhere from $200 to $900 for a single unit based on many factors. You are encouraged to do your homework and show around.

The following criteria should be taken into consideration when shopping for an air purifier:

  • CARD rating – Look for the highest CARD rating for the room size you have. The higher the CARD, the better the air purifier.
  • Filter costs – How much are the replacement filters, and how often are you expected to replace them?
  • Energy efficiency – Look for an Energy Star-certified model. Just remember that CARD matters far more than an impressive Energy Star endorsement. Ideally, you want both.

Will Dehumidifiers Kill Dust Mites?

Although air purifiers are wonderful at capturing dust mite allergens from the air, they do not kill the dust mites. So what about dehumidifiers? Will dehumidifiers kill dust mites?

Dehumidifiers kill dust mites by reducing the humidity in the air that dust mites need to survive. Dust mites absorb moisture from the air. Lowering the humidity levels to between 30 to 50% is ideal for making the room uninhabitable for dust mites.

When considering which machine to purchase to combat dust mites, it’s important to remember that an air purifier will remove the dust mite allergens from the air, but it will not get to the heart of the problem.

A dehumidifier will remove the moisture from the air that the dust mites need to thrive. This in turn will kill dust mites.

Air purifiers serve many benefits, as they are very reliable at being able to eliminate the dust mite allergens in the air that can cause mild to severe allergic reactions.

They do not, however, kill dust mites. This is why you may strongly want to consider a dehumidifier instead of an air purifier.

Dehumidifiers kill dust mites by lowering the humidity in your home that dust mites rely on for their survival, while air purifiers only deal with the allergens that dust mites stir up into the air.

Air Purifier and Dehumidifier in One

We know that clean air void of allergens is ideal for good health.

Airborne particles such as pet dander, smoke, VOCs, dust, pollen, and odors from pets and households are harmful.

We also know that dust mites are killed by the use of a dehumidifier.

Therefore, why not research an air purifier and dehumidifier that works as one machine that cleans the air while maintaining an ideal humidity level?

Dehumidifiers also remove mold and mildew from the air, eliminating those nasty spores that float in and cause health problems.

Due to the value of both the air purifier and the dehumidifier, it may make sense to purchase an all-in-one and have the best of both worlds.

Just be careful that the air purifier part of the machine is ozone-free.

Trina Greenfield, Author
SmackDown Media LLC
LinkedIn

About the Author:
Trina Greenfield, the owner of SmackDown Media LLC, is passionate about providing information to those interested in the air quality in and around their homes. Trina writes content about things she’s passionate about, such as safe, in-home air, educational platforms for children and adults, as well as all things family-related.