We spend a good majority of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s since our residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues 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 furnishings or flooring, it could help purify the air traveling around your home.
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 could also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can figure out what’s right for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling system to clean your entire residence. Some models can work on their own when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t on.
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 provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can wipe out 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 odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when discharged at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
- Equalize your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 703-595-4157 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your home and budget.