We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors makes up 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside.
That’s because our residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants might aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance 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 could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpeting, it could help purify the air circulating around your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can determine what’s correct 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 HVAC equipment to purify your full residence. Some types can work by themselves when your HVAC 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 used in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory problems, even when released at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be freshened faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the top results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Use your air conditioner while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
- Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 724-425-5852 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the right system for your residence and budget.