We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s because our residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpeting, it might help purify the air moving throughout your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, like 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 determine what’s appropriate 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 house. Some types can purify independent when your heating and cooling unit isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone could irritate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at minor concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to think over when getting 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 higher number means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay in your home 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 aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Use your air conditioner while at home or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort unit.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 928-263-8570 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your residence and budget.