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

That’s because our residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bills, it’s not so fantastic if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. As a result, these pollutants can irritate your allergies.

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

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

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 could also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung trouble, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the advantages 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 works alongside your HVAC unit to purify your complete home. Some kinds can work by themselves when your home comfort system isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver 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 vapors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when emitted at small amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to consider when getting 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 bigger number means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
  • 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 unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are elevated.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can irritate symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs on your own, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on the AC while at your house or while driving. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 308-762-1613 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the best unit for your home and budget.