We spend lots of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it may help freshen the air traveling throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn what’s appropriate for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to treat your complete house. Some types can clean by themselves when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful 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 greatest in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory troubles, even when released at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to consider when buying 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 bigger figure means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that by myself?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Use your air conditioner while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC system.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 770-450-1539 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your home and budget.
