We spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building 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 since our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bills, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants could irritate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it can help purify the air traveling throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be useful if you or a family member has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can learn what’s right for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC unit to clean your complete residence. Some kinds can clean independently when your heating and cooling unit isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household odors.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when released at small settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I do that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the best results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these chores yourself, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Turn on the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort unit.
- Equalize your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 507-387-6596 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.