We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors comprises 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.
That’s since our houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning 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 relief.
While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it may help clean the air circulating around your house.
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 could also be helpful if you or a family member has lung trouble, including 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 appropriate for your home.
Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers
A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to purify your complete home. Some models can purify on their own when your home comfort unit isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they remove 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.
Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be freshened faster.)
- How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the most excellent performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
- Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do this work on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
- Run your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at (337) 234-2345 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your needs and budget.
