We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building accounts for 90% of our schedule. Although, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s due to the fact our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it can help freshen the air moving throughout your house.

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 could also be useful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can learn what’s correct 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 works with your HVAC equipment to treat your complete home. Some kinds can purify on their own when your HVAC unit isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory issues, even when released at low settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to ask when purchasing an air purifier.

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

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other measures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 276-302-0076 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right equipment for your house and budget.