We spend lots of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors makes up 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s since our houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a consequence, these pollutants might aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it may help purify the air moving across your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be useful if you or a family member has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can figure out what’s correct 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 heating and cooling unit to clean your complete house. Some types can clean on their own when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when released at low settings.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance 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 elevated.
  2. Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at home or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC unit.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 717-216-0846 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your home and budget.