We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors makes up 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so fantastic 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) may get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpet, it might help purify the air traveling throughout 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 can also be useful if you or a family member has lung trouble, including 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 figure out 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 heating and cooling unit to purify your full house. Some types can purify independently when your home comfort equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can wipe out 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 reduce household vapors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone can worsen respiratory problems, even when discharged at low settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to think over when buying 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 better figure means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the best results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other measures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Use the AC while at home or while driving. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 256-270-1196 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal system for your residence and budget.