We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors comprises 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s because our residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. Consequently, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it may help clean the air traveling across 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 helpful if you or a family member has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can determine what’s appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling system to clean your entire residence. Some models can purify by themselves when your heating and cooling 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 used 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 useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over when getting 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 higher figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other steps to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Use your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Prepared to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 703-260-1148 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your family and budget.
