We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it could help freshen the air circulating throughout your home.
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 might also be helpful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s right 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 equipment to clean your full home. Some kinds can purify by themselves when your HVAC system 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 placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when released at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to think over when purchasing 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 higher number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How regularly 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 Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other procedures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Turn on the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at (818) 727-9993 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.
