We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our houses are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help clean the air traveling around your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can learn 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 HVAC unit to treat your entire house. Some types can purify independent when your home comfort system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when released at low settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to ask when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Run your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the best equipment for your residence and budget.