We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a result, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpeting, it can help freshen the air traveling around your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or someone in your household 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 go over the distinctions so you can figure out what’s appropriate 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 alongside your HVAC system to clean your full house. Some types can clean independent when your home comfort equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Run air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort unit.
- Equalize your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 219-872-2198 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your home and budget.