We spend a good majority of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside comprises 90% of our time. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

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

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

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpet, it could help clean the air moving throughout your house.

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 a loved one has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can figure out what’s right for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your HVAC system to clean your full home. Some kinds can purify on their own when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could irritate respiratory issues, even when emitted at low concentrations.

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

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

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other procedures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on air conditioning while at home or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 918-682-8238 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.