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

That’s due to the fact our houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants could worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help freshen the air moving throughout your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can figure out what’s right for your residence.

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 unit to clean your full house. Some kinds can clean independent when your home comfort unit isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can find, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger figure means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish 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] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you must do these chores alone, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

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 schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the right system for your residence and budget.