We spend a good majority of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

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

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a result, these pollutants could aggravate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or carpeting, it may help freshen the air moving 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 might also be appropriate if you or someone in your household 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 learn what’s right for your house.

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 unit to clean your full residence. Some types can clean on their own when your HVAC system isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the greatest filtration you can buy, as they catch 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 wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when discharged at minor concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier take out from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be purified faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that on my own?
  • How much do new 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 recommends doing other measures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 608-291-3606 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your home and budget.