We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building comprises 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it may help clean the air traveling across your house.
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 a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can determine what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort unit to treat your full residence. Some models can clean independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can get, 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 powerful combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA advises ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to consider 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 number means air will be freshened faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- 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 trigger symptoms. If you have to do these chores on your own, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Run the AC while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
- Balance your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 772-247-2283 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your home and budget.
