We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s because our residences are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get captured. As a result, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it could help freshen the air moving around your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the advantages 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 single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your home comfort system to clean your entire house. Some types can purify independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at low settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be cleaned faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you must do this work alone, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Use the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling system.
- Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 276-302-0076 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best system for your house and budget.