We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it may help purify the air circulating around your home.
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 might also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung issues, including 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 learn what’s right for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC unit to clean your complete residence. Some types can work by themselves when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when emitted at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do this work alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Turn on air conditioning while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 281-231-8768 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal system for your family and budget.