We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. As a result, these pollutants could irritate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your couch or flooring, it may help purify the air traveling throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, 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 works with your heating and cooling equipment to clean your entire home. Some kinds can clean independent when your HVAC unit isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Run air conditioning while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 209-257-3156 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your residence and budget.