We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors makes up 90% of our days. Although, 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 tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic 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 including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it can help clean the air circulating across your residence.

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 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 discuss the distinctions 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 accompanies your HVAC system to purify your entire house. Some models can clean on their own when your home comfort equipment isn’t running.

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 deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may aggravate respiratory problems, even when released at small settings.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’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 kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 715-301-0727 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your house and budget.