We spend a lot of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or flooring, it can help purify the air traveling throughout your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a family member has lung issues, like 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 figure out what’s right for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling equipment to clean your full residence. Some types can purify independent when your heating and cooling unit 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 installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger number means air will be purified faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures 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 other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Run the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Equalize your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 715-352-4052 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the right system for your family and budget.
