We spend a lot of time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building accounts for 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

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

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your couch or flooring, it may help freshen the air circulating across your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

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

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling system to purify your entire home. Some types can work on their own when your home comfort system isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory problems, even when released at minor concentrations.

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 remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other measures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs yourself, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Use the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
  5. Even out 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 home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 814-308-0416 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal unit for your family and budget.