We spend lots of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s because our houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a result, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpeting, it could help freshen the air traveling throughout your house.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a family member has a lung condition, including 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 learn what’s right for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to treat your full house. Some kinds can clean on their own when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at small settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when buying 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 faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that by myself?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these chores alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Run your air conditioner while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort system.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 814-308-0416 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your residence and budget.