We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside makes up 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpeting, it may help clean the air circulating throughout your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages 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 works alongside your HVAC equipment to purify your entire residence. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your heating and cooling unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other procedures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these chores on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Run your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at (985) 764-2426 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal system for your residence and budget.
