We spend lots of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building makes up 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it might help purify the air circulating around your home.
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 appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including 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 learn what’s appropriate 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 system to purify your entire residence. Some models can work by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory troubles, even when released at minor concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these chores yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Use air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC unit.
- Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 507-387-6596 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your family and budget.
