We spend a lot of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s since our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so good if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get captured. Consequently, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it might help freshen the air moving around your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified 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 trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can determine what’s right for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC system to purify your entire residence. Some kinds can clean by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when released at minor amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to think over when purchasing 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 higher figure means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that by myself?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other procedures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do these chores on your own, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately 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 adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use 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 specialists a call at 270-358-3167 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your house and budget.