We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s since our homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furniture or flooring, it could help purify the air traveling throughout your house.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the advantages so you can learn 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 alongside your home comfort equipment to purify your entire house. Some models can clean on their own when your HVAC equipment isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they eliminate 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 eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household vapors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at small concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be purified faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other measures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do this work alone, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside.
  4. Use the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 309-517-7511 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best unit for your home and budget.