We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building makes up 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s since our houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it might help purify the air traveling around 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 a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can figure out what’s appropriate for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling unit to clean your complete residence. Some types can clean on their own when your HVAC equipment isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory issues, even when released at minor amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that by myself?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at home or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC system.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 888-863-0560 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your house and budget.