We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors comprises 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our homes are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it may help clean the air traveling around your house.
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 can also be useful if you or a family member has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can figure out what’s appropriate 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 works alongside your heating and cooling unit to clean your complete residence. Some types can clean by themselves when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could worsen respiratory troubles, even when discharged at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you must do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Run the AC while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 239-244-3439 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your family and budget.
