We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building makes up 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.

That’s because our residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

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

While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it can help freshen the air circulating across your house.

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 can also be helpful if you or someone in your household 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 advantages so you can figure out what’s appropriate for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your home comfort system to clean your entire home. Some types can work independent when your home comfort system 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 used in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a listing of questions to ask when buying 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 amount means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that on my own?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 937-558-9478 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your house and budget.