We spend a lot of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

That’s since our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. Consequently, these pollutants can worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it could help purify the air moving across your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, 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 right for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling equipment to treat your complete home. Some types can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and offer the best filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might aggravate respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a checklist of questions to think over 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 quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that on my own?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other measures to reduce 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 other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do these chores alone, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Turn on the AC while indoors or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort unit.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 734-284-1224 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best unit for your family and budget.