We spend a lot of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors makes up 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, 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 such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it could help freshen the air traveling across your house.
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 can also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can determine 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 with your HVAC system to treat your full residence. Some models can purify independent when your HVAC equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide 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 mighty combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory issues, even when released at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to ask when getting 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 higher figure means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How often 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 Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Turn on air conditioning while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort system.
- Balance your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 641-316-9803 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your house and budget.