We spend a lot of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

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

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpeting, it can help purify the air circulating around your house.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, including 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 figure out what’s correct 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 system to purify your entire house. Some types can work on their own when your home comfort unit isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when discharged at small settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over when purchasing 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 better number means air will be purified faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other procedures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these chores alone, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside.
  4. Turn on air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 928-251-4327 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your home and budget.