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Do Air Purifiers Help with Allergies?

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We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpeting, it may help clean the air circulating throughout your home.

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 may also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can determine what’s correct for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to treat your full residence. Some models can clean by themselves when your HVAC system isn’t operating.

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 offer the greatest filtration you can buy, 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 blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at minor amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to ask 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 higher number means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced? Can I finish that by myself?
  • 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 unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other measures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run your air conditioner while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high-efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our pros a call at (325) 692-5850 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal system for your needs and budget.

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