We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors makes up 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also says 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 great for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpeting, it could help clean the air circulating across your house.
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 could also be useful if you or a loved one has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, 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 residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your HVAC equipment to clean your complete house. Some models can clean by themselves when your HVAC system isn’t running.
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 provide the most comprehensive filtration you can find, 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 eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone can worsen respiratory issues, even when released at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be cleaned faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the best performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do these chores on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Turn on the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Want to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 740-200-5591 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your family and budget.