We spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside makes up 90% of our time. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, 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 including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. As a result, these pollutants might irritate your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier might be able to help.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpeting, it could help purify the air traveling throughout your residence.

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

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences so you can learn what’s correct for your house.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your HVAC unit to treat your full residence. Some kinds can purify independent when your home comfort equipment 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 used in hospitals and deliver the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could worsen respiratory problems, even when emitted at low concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I complete that without help?
  • How much do new 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 suggests completing other procedures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home 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 aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs alone, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Use the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort system.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your house has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 510-343-9841 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your home and budget.