We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. Consequently, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help clean the air circulating throughout your residence.
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 a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can figure out 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 accompanies your home comfort equipment to treat your complete home. Some types can purify independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when buying 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 freshened faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other procedures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Use the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 954-320-7398 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your residence and budget.
