We spend lots of time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our time. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s since our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or flooring, it could help clean the air traveling around your house.
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 might 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 go over the distinctions so you can learn what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort equipment to treat your complete home. Some models can work independently when your home comfort equipment isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could aggravate respiratory issues, even when emitted at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the top outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs yourself, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
- Use air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
- Balance your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 308-832-4321 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your house and budget.