We spend a good majority of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to help.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpet, it could help purify the air circulating throughout your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung trouble, such as 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 house.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling unit to purify your complete home. Some models can purify on their own when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone may aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be purified faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched? Can I do that by myself?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the top performance from your new air purification equipment? 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 sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
- Use the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Prepared to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best system for your residence and budget.