We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it can help purify the air traveling around your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can figure out what’s right for your house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC equipment to treat your complete house. Some kinds can purify on their own when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed 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 beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory troubles, even when released at low 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 extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
- Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 507-387-6596 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your house and budget.
