We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s because our houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when 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 furniture or carpet, it can help clean the air moving across your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can determine what’s right 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 with your HVAC unit to treat your full house. Some kinds can purify independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy 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 eliminate household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at small amounts.
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 remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other procedures 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 cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Use air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort equipment.
- Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 763-276-0617 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your home and budget.
