We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside.
That’s since our residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpeting, it may help purify the air traveling across your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be useful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can learn 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 accompanies your HVAC system to treat your full house. Some kinds can purify by themselves when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory symptoms, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the most excellent performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other steps to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Turn on the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house 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 experts a call at 641-628-3621 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best system for your house and budget.