We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside.
That’s since our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.
When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.
You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.
While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it may help clean the air circulating throughout your residence.
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 may also be useful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.
There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can learn what’s correct 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 accompanies your heating and cooling system to treat your entire home. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your HVAC system isn’t operating.
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used 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 effective when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.
Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when released at small amounts.
The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.
- What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
- What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
- How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that on my own?
- How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?
How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
Want to receive the most excellent performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other steps to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.
- Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
- Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
- Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
- Run the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system.
- Equalize your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.
Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities
Prepared to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at 605-206-3766 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your residence and budget.