We spend lots of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s since our residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. As a result, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it can help freshen the air moving throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can learn 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 works alongside your home comfort equipment to purify your full residence. Some kinds can work by themselves when your heating and cooling unit isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might worsen respiratory problems, even when discharged at small settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other measures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Turn on the AC while at home or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
- Equalize your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 715-301-0727 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal system for your residence and budget.