We spend lots of time indoors. As a matter of fact, 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 worse than outside your home.

That’s because our homes are firmly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bills, 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) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants may 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 when 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 carpeting, it may help clean the air traveling around your residence.

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, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can determine what’s correct 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 works with your home comfort equipment to purify your full home. Some kinds can clean independent when your heating and cooling unit 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 installed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty mixture 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 smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could aggravate respiratory problems, even when emitted at low amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I finish that by myself?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other procedures 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 heightened.
  2. Have someone else cut the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can worsen symptoms. If you have to do these jobs on your own, 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 home’s home comfort system.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Want to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 763-276-0617 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your home and budget.