We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

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

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpeting, it could help freshen the air circulating around 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 helpful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can learn what’s correct for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling unit to purify your entire residence. Some kinds can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when emitted at small concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that on my own?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other steps to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Use the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 740-344-5497 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal system for your home and budget.