We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s because our houses are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpeting, it could help clean the air traveling across 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 someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the advantages so you can learn 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 heating and cooling equipment to purify your full residence. Some types can clean on their own when your heating and cooling unit isn’t running.
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 best filtration you can buy, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone can irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the most excellent results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
- Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
- Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 614-879-9091 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your house and budget.