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

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

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get trapped. As a result, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

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

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it may help purify the air moving around your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can figure out what’s appropriate 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 with your HVAC system to purify your full house. Some kinds can work by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, think over equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household smells.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory troubles, even when discharged at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider when purchasing 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 bigger amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these chores on your own, you might want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Use the AC while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 515-207-6569 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.