We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors accounts for 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a result, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpet, it could help purify the air moving across your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can determine what’s correct for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort equipment to clean your complete home. Some kinds can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone might aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to ask when purchasing 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 bigger amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these chores on your own, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Use the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
- Balance your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 304-877-5566 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your home and budget.
