We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building makes up 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

That’s due to the fact our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

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

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it may help clean the air circulating throughout your home.

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 helpful if you or a family member has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can determine 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 alongside your HVAC unit to purify your complete house. Some kinds can work independent when your home comfort equipment isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created 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 bigger figure means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that on my own?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other family members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Turn on air conditioning while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC system.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 928-432-6018 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.