We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building comprises 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s since our residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it might help purify the air traveling around 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 can also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung issues, such as 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 home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your HVAC equipment to treat your full house. Some types can purify by themselves when your HVAC unit isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed 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 beneficial 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 greatest in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household smells.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone can worsen respiratory troubles, even when discharged at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the most excellent performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Turn on the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort system.
- Even out your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 770-450-1539 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right equipment for your house and budget.