We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside.
That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. As a result, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it may help freshen the air traveling throughout your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn what’s right for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to purify your complete residence. Some types can clean independently when your HVAC system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to ask 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 higher number means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the most excellent outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Run air conditioning while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC system.
- Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 979-335-4262 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your home and budget.