We spend lots of time in our homes. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside accounts for 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

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

When outside ventilation is insufficient, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants could worsen 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 during the time you’re at your residence, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpeting, it may help purify the air traveling around your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, including 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 learn what’s appropriate 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 HVAC equipment to purify your full residence. Some types can work independent when your heating and cooling unit isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used 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 powerful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might aggravate respiratory issues, even when emitted at minor settings.

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

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
  • How regularly 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 Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to limit your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Run the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 812-663-7252 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your family and budget.