We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors makes up 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s since our homes are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it might help purify the air moving across your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be helpful if you or a family member has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can determine 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 accompanies your home comfort unit to clean your entire residence. Some types can clean independent when your HVAC equipment isn’t running.
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 deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might aggravate respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list 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 purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these chores yourself, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
- Use air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
- Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 770-450-1539 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal unit for your residence and budget.
