We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside makes up 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it could help clean the air traveling across your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can figure out what’s correct 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 with your home comfort equipment to purify your entire home. Some models can work on their own when your heating and cooling system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could irritate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be freshened faster.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other measures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Turn on air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 956-553-3265 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your family and budget.