We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building comprises 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has found 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 increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it can help purify the air circulating throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or a family member has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can determine what’s correct for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to clean your entire house. Some models can work by themselves when your home comfort equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can get, 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 mighty blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory troubles, even when emitted at small settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to consider when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be freshened faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores alone, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Run your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort equipment.
- Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 715-504-0533 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your home and budget.