We spend a good majority of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s due to the fact our homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy 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) could get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpet, it could help purify the air circulating throughout your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a loved one has lung issues, 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 determine what’s right for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort equipment to purify your complete residence. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy 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 reduce household odors.

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

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

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger number means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that on my own?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other procedures to decrease 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 someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you must do this work on your own, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Use the AC while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort system.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 928-251-4327 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right equipment for your family and budget.