We spend a good majority of our time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.

That’s since our homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

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

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furniture or flooring, it can help clean the air traveling throughout your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be useful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, like 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 residence.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC system to purify your entire house. Some kinds can work by themselves when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.

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 offer the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA advises ozone might worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at small amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other steps to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do this work on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at home or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC unit.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 303-452-4146 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your family and budget.