We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s because our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. Consequently, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpeting, it could help clean the air traveling around your residence.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over 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 a single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling equipment to clean your entire home. Some models can work on their own when your heating and cooling 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 greatest filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household odors.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone might worsen respiratory symptoms, even when emitted at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more quickly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the most excellent performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other measures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you must do these jobs on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid drying laundry outside.
- Turn on air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Equalize your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Ready to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 812-825-8695 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the best equipment for your needs and budget.