We spend lots of time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. Consequently, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at home, 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 clean the air circulating around your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be helpful if you or a family member has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can determine what’s appropriate for your residence.

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 system to clean your complete house. Some types can work on their own when your home comfort unit isn’t running.

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 provide the best filtration you can get, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

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

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be freshened more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these chores on your own, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Even out your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 478-202-3170 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the best equipment for your family and budget.