We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building makes up 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s since our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues 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 landed on your furnishings or carpet, it could help freshen the air traveling throughout your residence.
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 could also be helpful if you or a family member 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 differences so you can determine what’s appropriate for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC equipment to clean your complete residence. Some kinds can work on their own when your home comfort equipment isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may aggravate respiratory problems, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist 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 better amount means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Use the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system.
- Balance your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 570-648-0748 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best unit for your residence and budget.