We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s since our residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get captured. Consequently, these pollutants can aggravate 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 your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your couch or flooring, it may help clean the air traveling across your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung issues, 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 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 works with your HVAC equipment to clean your complete house. Some models can purify by themselves when your HVAC equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone can aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be purified more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the most excellent outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Turn on the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Even out your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at (815)914-6197 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your family and budget.