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

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

When outdoors ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual housework 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 couch or flooring, it may help clean the air circulating around your house.

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 might also be helpful 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 examine the advantages so you can learn what’s appropriate for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to clean your entire home. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.

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 greatest filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when emitted at low concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these chores yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  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 unit.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 303-452-4146 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your family and budget.