We spend a lot of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. Consequently, these pollutants might aggravate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it could help freshen the air circulating 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 a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can learn 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 equipment to purify your complete residence. Some types can purify independent when your HVAC system isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend 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 eliminate household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might worsen respiratory issues, even when discharged at minor settings.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be purified faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that on my own?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
  4. Use the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 641-316-3360 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best system for your family and budget.