We spend a good majority of our time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being indoors accounts for 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outside your home.

That’s since our residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may get stuck. As a result, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furniture or carpet, it could help freshen the air moving around your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It might also be helpful if you or someone in your household has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

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

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 system to purify your entire residence. Some models can work by themselves when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.

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 provide the best filtration you can buy, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when released at minor amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be freshened more rapidly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that on my own?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic suggests doing other procedures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

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

Let Our Pros Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to take the next step with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 812-825-8695 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right equipment for your family and budget.