I have a confession to make: I didn’t follow my own advice. You may remember from previous blogs that I’ll encourage you to order your air filter refills ahead of time – so you aren’t without your home air purifier.

Well I got busy and simply forgot to order my air filter refill! And by the time I realized I needed a refill, the current air filter was finished. So I decided to take the days it would take for my air filter to come as an opportunity: what would life be like without my air filter?

photo credit: gogoloopie

I think one of the biggest things I noticed was my sleep. I had more trouble settling down and going to sleep without the air filter. When I woke up, I also seemed less rested.

The other thing I noticed – and I’ve never seen any other research to back this up – was that my air-conditioned room seemed less cool. Somehow, when the air filter and the air conditioning were running together, I could put the air conditioner on “low” and the room would be frosty cold. But without the air filter, often I’d need to crank it up to “high” to get that same effect. With my air filter there have been times – even in these very hot NorthEast summer days (90 plus degree heat and humidity) where I had turned my air conditioner off and just let the air filter run on its own. Again, I’ve seen no other research mentioned on that. But I thought it was a very interesting thing to notice.

The air in my room seemed “okay” but lost a lot of the crispness I was used to. Things like cooking smells from the kitchen would waft into my room. Not unpleasant smells, just things that the air filter normally would filter out.

When my new air filter refill came, I happily popped it into my unit and turned it on. I was somewhat relieved this “experiment” was over – as I already knew what I’d assumed: life with your air filter is far more pleasant. I sleep deeper and feel more comfortable.

And you’ll be relieved to know I did follow my own advice and ordered two air filter refills at the same time. So I’ve got a backup waiting for me. No more “experiments” for me!

You don’t need to run this experiment to know that an air filter gives you great benefits. And don’t put yourself in the position where you’ve run out of air filters and you have to go without. Order two or three air filters at once – you’ll also save on shipping and handling costs! It’s a great convenience knowing you’ve got your air filter refills waiting for you, ready to use. This past week has been an experience I wouldn’t want to repeat any time soon.

Try these helpful tips to keep you from experimenting:

Ordering an air filter machine for the first time? Order two air filter refills at the same time. You’ll likely be replacing the air filter every three months or so, depending on use. Your machine should come with one air filter refill – and those two air filters will get you through most of the coming year.

Need an air filter refill? Order several at a time. We suggest ordering two to four at a time. You’ll save on shipping and handling. Four air filter refills and you’ll have enough air filter refills to get through the coming year (depending on usage). Keep them in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures.

Write down your air filter machine number and the air filter refill number in your address book and other convenient locations. This way you’re always ready to reorder quickly. Many put off reordering because they just don’t have this information at their fingertips. Get organized and you’ll be glad you’ve got it exactly where you need it!

For allergy and asthma sufferers – the hot summer weather can be brutal. Trying to stay cool is important during the summer. Your air filter can help you to be more comfortable during the summer months – if you help it to do a good job for you.

Stay properly hydrated. Many people are dehydrated without realizing it. Caffeinated soda, coffee and tea actually do not hydrate you but dehydrate you – making you feel more thirsty and sometimes other symptoms of dehydration like tired or a headache. The best “energy drink” especially during the summer is water. Be sure to drink plenty of water and carry a bottle of water with you on-the-go so you’ve always got some to drink. Staying hydrated is a key step to helping your body stay cool in the heat.

Use fans or your air conditioner. If you have a fan or air conditioner, summertime is the ideal time to use these. You don’t have to run up a huge electric bill, running them on “high” all the time. Wear light and loose clothing indoors and don’t sleep with blankets. Keep windows and doors closed as you run the fan or air conditioner to keep your home cool.

Running your air filter will give you cleaner air to breathe and will make you more comfortable overall. Remember to clean the air filter in your air conditioner and to gently wipe down the blades of your fan (unplugged) so you aren’t circulating dust into the air. This tip alone will have you beating the heat and feeling much more comfortable in the summertime with your allergies and asthma. Try to keep an extra air filter on hand so if you want to change air filters, you don’t have to wait for one to be delivered – you’ve got one readily available to you easily and quickly.

Eat light and cool meals. Most people don’t want to cook much during the summer. Take advantage of all of the yummy summer fruits and vegetables. Eat cold summer salads with protein in them. Lighter meals will help you stay cool.

By staying cool your allergies and asthma will likely feel more comfortable. Many allergy and asthma sufferers feel uncomfortable in the heat and humidity. Enjoy summer, stay hydrated and cool – and your allergies won’t get you down!

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