We spend lots of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined 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 because our residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bills, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

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

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help purify the air circulating throughout your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be helpful if you or someone in your household 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 examine the differences so you can learn what’s appropriate 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 unit to clean your entire house. Some types can clean on their own when your heating and cooling equipment 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 installed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may aggravate respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other measures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you must do this work alone, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort system.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 561-533-6066 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.