We spend a lot of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s because our residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. Consequently, these pollutants could irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or flooring, it may help purify the air moving throughout your house.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can determine what’s right for your residence.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling unit to clean your full residence. Some types can work by themselves when your home comfort unit isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

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

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could aggravate respiratory issues, even when emitted at low amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger number means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How often 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 Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on the AC while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s HVAC system.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring types for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 208-561-1226 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best system for your house and budget.