We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s since our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it could help purify the air moving across 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 someone in your household 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 advantages 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 home comfort system to purify your full residence. Some kinds can purify on their own when your HVAC unit 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 used in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other measures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you must do this work on your own, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Run the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Equalize your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 937-558-9478 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your home and budget.
