We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside.
That’s due to the fact our houses are tightly sealed to increase 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 insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a result, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.
You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it might help clean the air traveling throughout your residence.
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 can also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two options, 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 a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC unit to clean your full house. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your HVAC system isn’t on.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.
HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.
Avoid purchasing an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory symptoms, even when emitted at small concentrations.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made 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 amount means air will be purified more quickly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I complete that without help?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the best results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other procedures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re done.
- Avoid hanging laundry outside.
- Use air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider installing a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
- Equalize your home’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 Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 763-535-2000 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best system for your house and budget.