We spend lots of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help clean the air circulating around your home.
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 might also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can figure out what’s correct for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling equipment to clean your full home. Some types can work by themselves when your heating and cooling system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to consider when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures 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 mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you must do this work yourself, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
- Use your air conditioner while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC unit.
- Even out 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, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 435-753-5515 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your residence and budget.