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

That’s since our residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic 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 like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants can worsen 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 residence, an air purifier could be able to provide relief.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpet, it can help freshen the air circulating throughout your house.

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 appropriate if you or someone in your household has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences 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 single room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort equipment to purify your complete home. Some kinds can work on their own when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may worsen respiratory issues, even when discharged at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to think over when getting 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 higher figure means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other steps to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these chores alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Use air conditioning while at your house or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 512-937-2001 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your house and budget.