We spend a good majority of our time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building accounts for 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

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

When outside ventilation is restricted, 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 clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it might help purify the air traveling 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 might also be appropriate if you or a family member has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s correct for your house.

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 heating and cooling equipment to clean your complete house. Some kinds can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t on.

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 offer the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the primary ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over when buying 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 better figure means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that on my own?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] outcome from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other steps to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Run air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort system.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 602-789-3315 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the best equipment for your house and budget.