We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

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

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it might help purify the air moving across 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 appropriate 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 advantages so you can determine what’s right for your home.

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 system to purify your entire house. Some kinds can purify by themselves when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.

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

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other measures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 267-277-3851 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your house and budget.