We spend lots of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside makes up 90% of our time. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.
That’s because our homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpet, it may help clean the air moving throughout your house.
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 useful if you or a loved one 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 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 unit to purify your entire house. Some types can purify independent when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when released at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other measures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs alone, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 804-302-6657 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal unit for your residence and budget.