We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s since our residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpet, it might help purify the air traveling around your house.
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 might also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can determine what’s right for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort unit to purify your full house. Some types can work independent when your home comfort unit isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these chores alone, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Use your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC equipment.
- Even out your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 979-335-4262 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.