We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.
That’s due to the fact our houses are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.
You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to help.
While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpeting, it might help clean the air moving 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 trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s right for your residence.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling system to clean your full house. Some types can purify by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t running.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more effective when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA advises ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when released at low concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be cleaned faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do new filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the best results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other procedures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
- Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do this work alone, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Use your air conditioner while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort system.
- Even out your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements
Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 303-452-4146 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your house and budget.