We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it can help freshen the air traveling throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen 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, like 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 determine what’s appropriate for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort unit to purify your complete home. Some types can clean by themselves when your heating and cooling unit isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Run your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort system.
- Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 843-485-0967 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best unit for your house and budget.