Allergies can cause serious discomfort and significantly affect your quality of life. While it may be possible to reduce exposure to some allergens in the home, such as pet hair, other sources of irritation cannot be eliminated entirely. However, air purifiers and HVAC filters can cut back on their prevalence in the home.
Indoor Pollutants
The term “indoor” is a little misleading since as the Environmental Protection Agency points out, some indoor pollutants may come from outside. Pollen can be a particular problem for people in Georgia, but pollutants in the home can also come from dust mites, cooking, secondhand smoke and more.
Tips for Fighting Allergies
After a rain, pollen and other outdoor allergens may be less severe. If your allergies are severe, you may want to consider wearing a mask outside. Changing clothes after going outside, removing shoes before entering the house, keeping windows closed and vacuuming frequently with a HEPA filter can help. Some people find relief with over-the-counter decongestants. The Mayo Clinic has a number of other suggestions for dealing with seasonal allergies.
How Air Cleaners Can Help
Air purifiers may clean particles, gases or both. Air cleaners and purifiers need to have the right clean air delivery rate (CADR) relative to the size of the room you need to clear. A professional can assist you in determining the necessary CADR. Air cleaners work well alongside HVAC filters since HVAC filters only work when the system is in operation. The efficiency of an HVAC filter is expressed in its Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV, and an HVAC technician may help determine the right MERV for your system.
Most residential HVAC systems filter particles of a certain size but do not filter gases, viruses and microscopic particulate matter. Whole-home air purifiers are available, such as the Reme Halo air purifier that will filter viruses, bacteria, gases, odors, pollen, mold spores, and more.
To learn more about how taking steps to improve indoor air quality with an air purifier and an HVAC filter can help with your allergies, visit Deal’s Heating & Air or give us a call at (912) 226-1351.
