We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpet, it may help freshen the air traveling around your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort system to clean your entire residence. Some kinds can work independent when your HVAC system isn’t operating.
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 deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Prepared to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 251-471-2674 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your house and budget.