We spend lots of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being indoors comprises 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

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

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it could help clean the air traveling throughout your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be helpful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can learn what’s correct for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling system to purify your full home. Some models can clean on their own when your heating and cooling system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone may irritate respiratory troubles, even when released 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 take out from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher figure means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other measures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Use your air conditioner while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling system.
  5. Equalize your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to progress with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 314-262-4541 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your home and budget.