We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our days. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

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

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furniture or flooring, it could help freshen the air circulating around your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be useful if you or a loved one has lung issues, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the differences so you can determine what’s appropriate for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort equipment to clean your full house. Some types can work independent when your home comfort system isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the best in air purification, consider a system that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid getting an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might worsen respiratory problems, even when released at low concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to consider when purchasing 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 amount means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do replacement 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 suggests taking other procedures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other household members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do this work yourself, you may want to consider using a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort unit.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 308-832-4321 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you locate the best equipment for your residence and budget.