We spend lots of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.
That’s because our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bills, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. As a result, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your couch or flooring, it could help freshen the air circulating across your home.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can learn what’s correct for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your HVAC unit to purify your entire residence. Some kinds can clean on their own when your home comfort equipment isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate 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 take care of household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may aggravate respiratory symptoms, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to consider 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 quickly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the best results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these chores on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Turn on the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC unit.
- Balance your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Prepared to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 918-212-8943 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your residence and budget.