We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors 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 since our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.

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

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furniture or carpeting, it may help clean the air traveling across your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower 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 a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can figure out 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 with your heating and cooling system to treat your entire residence. Some types can purify on their own when your heating and cooling system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over 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 bigger amount means air will be purified faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 402-628-0206 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.