We spend lots of time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.

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

When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it can help purify the air circulating throughout 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 can also be helpful if you or a family member has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over 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 works with your home comfort equipment to treat your entire home. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed 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, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might worsen respiratory troubles, even when released at minor amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking 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 family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your home and budget.