We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside.
That’s because our residences are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furniture or flooring, it can help clean the air moving throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce 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 lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can learn what’s right 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 works alongside your heating and cooling equipment to treat your complete house. Some types can clean by themselves when your home comfort equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to ask when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the best performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do this work yourself, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Turn on the AC while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 515-207-6569 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your house and budget.