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

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

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it could help purify the air moving across 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 could also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can figure out what’s appropriate 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 unit to clean your full home. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone could irritate respiratory issues, even when emitted at minor amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to ask when buying an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 641-316-3360 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your family and budget.