We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors accounts for 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s since our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to help.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it might help clean the air circulating throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be appropriate if you or a loved one has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can figure out 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 accompanies your home comfort system to treat your complete house. Some types can clean independently when your heating and cooling system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to take care of household smells.
Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at low amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to consider when buying 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 higher number means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that by myself?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the most excellent results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures 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 someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs yourself, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Turn on the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
- Equalize your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 847-362-0262 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your house and budget.