We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building makes up 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it might help purify the air moving 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 might 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 go over the distinctions so you can determine what’s correct 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 accompanies your HVAC unit to purify your full house. Some types can purify on their own when your home comfort unit isn’t running.
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 deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might worsen respiratory issues, even when discharged at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be freshened faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Run the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
- Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 505-226-3525 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the best system for your home and budget.