We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being inside makes up 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

That’s due to the fact our homes are tightly sealed to boost 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 outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. Consequently, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it might help freshen the air traveling throughout your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be useful if you or a family member has lung trouble, including 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 right for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling system to purify your complete home. Some models can work on their own when your heating and cooling unit 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 installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might worsen respiratory issues, even when discharged at low concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better number means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside.
  4. Use air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC unit.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 503-213-4433 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal unit for your home and budget.