We spend a lot of time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors accounts for 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a result, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpeting, it can help purify the air moving across your home.

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

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can figure out 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 with your home comfort system to clean your full home. Some models can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
  • 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 system? The Mayo Clinic suggests completing other measures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Run your air conditioner while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Equalize your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 309-517-7511 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your house and budget.