We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good if you’re among 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. Consequently, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it could help clean the air traveling throughout your house.
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 can also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, 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 figure out what’s right for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling system to purify your full residence. Some types can purify on their own when your HVAC unit isn’t on.
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 greatest filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household smells.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA advises ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be purified more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched? Can I do that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the top performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Turn on air conditioning while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 717-220-4502 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your home and budget.