We spend a good majority of our time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

That’s since our homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants may worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it can help freshen the air circulating throughout your house.

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 could also be useful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions 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 single room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling system to clean your full house. Some kinds can purify independent when your HVAC unit 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 installed in hospitals and provide the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider 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 higher number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How often 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 get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these chores yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on clean clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside.
  4. Run air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your house and budget.