We spend lots of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a result, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it could help purify the air traveling across your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can figure out what’s correct for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to purify your entire residence. Some types can purify on their own when your HVAC unit isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might irritate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that without help?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the best results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Use your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling system.
- Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 979-323-6130 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right system for your home and budget.