We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors accounts for 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside.
That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it can help purify the air moving across your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn what’s appropriate for your home.
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 equipment to purify your full home. Some kinds can purify on their own when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.
Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor settings.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider when getting 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 better number means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that by myself?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the top outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
- Use air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Equalize your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 815-410-1128 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your needs and budget.