We spend lots of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside comprises 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furniture or flooring, it may help freshen the air traveling across your residence.
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 could also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can determine what’s right for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling unit to clean your complete house. Some types can work independent when your HVAC equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these chores alone, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Use your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
- Even out your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 224-412-8308 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right system for your house and budget.
