We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors comprises 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

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

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

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it could help freshen the air moving across your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can figure out what’s right for your residence.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort equipment to clean your full house. Some models can clean by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might irritate respiratory issues, even when emitted at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to think over 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 higher number means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that on my own?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other measures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Use air conditioning while at home or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 863-216-2923 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your home and budget.