We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors makes up 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s since our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. As a result, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it can help purify the air circulating throughout your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn what’s right for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to treat your full residence. Some types can clean by themselves when your home comfort unit isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be purified faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 800-941-0247 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal system for your home and budget.