We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a result, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpeting, it can help clean the air traveling across your home.
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 could also be useful if you or a family member has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can learn what’s appropriate for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your home comfort equipment to treat your entire house. Some kinds can work by themselves when your HVAC equipment 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 used in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone can worsen respiratory issues, even when discharged at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when buying an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the top performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other steps to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Use air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort equipment.
- Even out your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 614-451-0846 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your needs and budget.