We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our houses are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bills, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

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

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it may help freshen 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 useful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

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

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort equipment to treat your complete residence. Some kinds can clean independent when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can get, 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 standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the primary component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may aggravate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over when getting an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do spare 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 suggests doing other measures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you might want to 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. Turn on air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC system.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 509-392-8770 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the right unit for your residence and budget.