We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.

That’s due to the fact our houses are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so good 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) may get captured. Consequently, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or flooring, it could help purify 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 can also be useful if you or a family member has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can learn what’s right for your residence.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC equipment to treat your entire home. Some models can purify by themselves when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed 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 combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.

Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • 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 Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Turn on air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC system.
  5. Even out your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 724-425-5852 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your home and budget.