We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors makes up 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s because our houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a result, 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 issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it might help purify the air moving around your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a family member has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can figure out what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your home comfort unit to clean your full residence. Some kinds can work on their own when your HVAC 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 used in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory troubles, even when released at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger number means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the best results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can aggravate symptoms. If you must do this work alone, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Run air conditioning while at home or while driving. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort system.
- Even out your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 520-200-1048 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your house and budget.