We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling 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 including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants could 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 may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpeting, it might help purify the air moving throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be appropriate if you or a family member 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 figure out what’s appropriate 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 home comfort equipment to clean your full residence. Some types can work independent when your heating and cooling unit isn’t on.
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 provide the greatest filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to consider when purchasing 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 higher amount means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you must do this work on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Run your air conditioner while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort unit.
- Balance your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at +1 847-293-0047 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your family and budget.
