We spend lots of time in our homes. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside accounts for 90% of our days. Although, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpet, it might help purify the air moving across your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen 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 a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages so you can determine what’s appropriate for your residence.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your home comfort unit to purify your entire house. Some kinds can clean on their own when your home comfort 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 installed in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. The EPA advises ozone might aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at low amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier remove 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 regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that without help?
  • 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 advises completing other measures to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay inside 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 trigger symptoms. If you have to do these chores on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside your home.
  4. Use the AC while indoors or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s home comfort equipment.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 484-646-3363 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your house and budget.