We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s due to the fact our residences are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants might aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it may help purify the air traveling across your home.
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 may also be useful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can learn what’s correct 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 HVAC system to purify your full home. Some models can purify independently when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone can worsen respiratory troubles, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when getting 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 quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the best outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other procedures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these chores on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Turn on air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
- Equalize your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 928-263-8570 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your family and budget.