We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our houses are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it could help freshen the air circulating throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a family member has lung issues, such as 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 figure out what’s right for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort system to treat your entire residence. Some models can purify independent when your home comfort equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, 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 mighty blend can wipe out 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 reduce household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might irritate respiratory troubles, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to consider when buying 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 bigger number means air will be freshened faster.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other steps to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you must do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Run the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort equipment.
- Even out your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 304-707-0600 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your home and budget.