We spend a lot of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bills, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a result, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpeting, it may help freshen the air traveling across your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or a loved one 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 advantages so you can figure out what’s right for your residence.
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 home comfort equipment to clean your entire house. Some types can purify by themselves when your heating and cooling unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after an option 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 trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture 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 decrease household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may aggravate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at low settings.
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 remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to get the top results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, 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.
- Turn on the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort system.
- Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 570-326-4450 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your residence and budget.