We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s since our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants could irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it can help purify the air moving 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 may 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 go over the distinctions so you can learn what’s appropriate for your residence.
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 home. Some types can purify by themselves when your home comfort equipment 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 placed in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory problems, even when released at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove 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 often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the best outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do this work yourself, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Run the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling system.
- Even out your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 281-231-8768 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your home and budget.