We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so fantastic if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants might aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or flooring, it could help freshen the air circulating 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 lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the distinctions so you can learn what’s correct 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 home comfort system to treat your entire residence. Some models can purify independent when your HVAC equipment isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at low settings.

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

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger amount means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that without help?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other procedures to reduce your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can irritate symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 717-216-0846 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your house and budget.