We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our days. 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 securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a result, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or flooring, it may help freshen the air moving around your home.

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

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s appropriate for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling unit to purify your entire residence. Some models can purify independent when your heating and cooling system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be freshened more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that on my own?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay inside 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 trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs alone, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Use the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Equalize your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to take the next step with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 715-301-0256 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your family and budget.