We spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outside your home.

That’s since our houses are firmly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furniture or flooring, it may help freshen the air circulating throughout your house.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lessen 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 lung issues, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the advantages 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 accompanies your heating and cooling system to treat your entire home. Some types can work independent when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

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

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider when buying 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 bigger figure means air will be purified faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other procedures 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 someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can trigger symptoms. If you are required to do these chores alone, you may want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC unit.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 573-635-3547 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal system for your house and budget.