We spend lots of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s since our houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a result, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it could help clean the air moving across your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can figure out what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC unit to treat your full home. Some models can work independently 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 installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone might aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to ask when buying 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 better amount means air will be freshened faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the top outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises taking 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 other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you must do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Use your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
- Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 484-646-3363 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best unit for your needs and budget.