We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants can 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 during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it can help freshen the air moving throughout 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 could also be appropriate if you or a family member has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can figure out what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your home comfort system to treat your complete home. Some models can clean independent when your home comfort equipment isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory issues, even when released at small settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be purified faster.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you must do this work alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Run the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
- Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 515-344-3579 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best unit for your family and budget.