We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, 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 fantastic 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 restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpet, it could help purify the air traveling throughout your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can figure out what’s right for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling unit to treat your entire home. Some models can purify independently when your HVAC equipment isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model 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 remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone can worsen respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to ask 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 number means air will be purified more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched? Can I do that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the most excellent outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other procedures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Turn on air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
- Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 208-578-4258 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your home and budget.