We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s due to the fact our houses are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bills, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpet, it may help freshen the air moving 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 can also be useful if you or a family member has lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn 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 works with your heating and cooling system to purify your entire home. Some kinds can purify independent when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at small settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to ask 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 higher figure means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside.
  4. Use air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 863-216-2923 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your home and budget.