We spend a lot of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

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

When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a result, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpet, it might help freshen the air traveling across your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or a family member has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over 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 single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your HVAC equipment to clean your full house. Some kinds can clean independent when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for an option 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 catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a listing of questions to ask when purchasing 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 better number means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Run your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 309-323-9584 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal system for your family and budget.