We spend lots of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s since our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good 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 such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it could help clean the air traveling across 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 may also be appropriate if you or a loved one has lung trouble, like 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 figure out what’s right 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 HVAC equipment to treat your entire house. Some kinds can work on their own when your heating and cooling unit isn’t running.

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 provide the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household vapors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA advises ozone could aggravate respiratory issues, even when emitted at low settings.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other steps to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort system.
  5. Equalize your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 224-412-8308 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your house and budget.