We spend lots of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors accounts for 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our residences are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpeting, it might help purify the air circulating around your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, 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 house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC unit to purify your full residence. Some kinds can purify independent when your heating and cooling 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 installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could worsen respiratory issues, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when buying 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 amount means air will be purified faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other measures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Turn on the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
- Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 641-316-9803 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your home and budget.
