We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpeting, it can help freshen the air traveling across your home.
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 might also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung issues, like 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 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 works alongside your home comfort unit to treat your complete residence. Some kinds can purify by themselves 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 provide the greatest filtration you can find, 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 mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when released at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list 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 amount means air will be cleaned faster.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Use air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 203-357-5913 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your family and budget.