We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building makes up 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our residences are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it can help purify the air circulating throughout your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified 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 family member has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can determine what’s right for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your HVAC equipment to purify your entire house. Some kinds can purify independently when your home comfort system isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can get, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to think over when purchasing 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 purified more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the most excellent performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Turn on air conditioning while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
- Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 623-208-6444 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your family and budget.