We spend a lot of time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside.
That’s due to the fact our residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to help.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it could help purify the air traveling throughout 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 might also be useful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can learn what’s right for your home.
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 home comfort equipment to treat your entire home. Some models can purify independently when your heating and cooling unit isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can buy, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy 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 eliminate household vapors.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory symptoms, even when emitted at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to consider 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 better figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the best outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other measures to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Run your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 843-485-0967 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your needs and budget.