We spend lots of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside comprises 90% of our time. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s since our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpet, it might help purify the air traveling throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be useful if you or a family member has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, 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 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 HVAC unit to clean your entire residence. Some models can purify independently when your heating and cooling system 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 placed in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone might worsen respiratory symptoms, even when discharged at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the top outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Run your air conditioner while at home or while driving. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC unit.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 402-509-5940 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your residence and budget.