We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building makes up 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.
That’s due to the fact our homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it might help freshen the air circulating across your house.
And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can determine what’s right for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to clean your entire residence. Some kinds can clean independent when your HVAC system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can eliminate 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 eliminate household vapors.
Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory troubles, even when discharged at minor amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.
- What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be cleaned faster.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
- Turn on air conditioning while at home or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
- Equalize your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 601-736-7362 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your family and budget.