We spend lots of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors makes up 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 since our residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bills, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoor ventilation is limited, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and usual 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 get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or flooring, it may help clean the air traveling around your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It can also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung issues, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the distinctions so you can determine what’s right 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 works with your HVAC unit to clean your full residence. Some kinds can purify independent when your home comfort equipment isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier 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 beneficial when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic combination can wipe out 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 eliminate household vapors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA advises ozone might worsen respiratory troubles, even when released at small amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a listing of questions to consider when getting 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 number means air will be purified more quickly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification unit? The Mayo Clinic advises completing other steps to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you have to do this work on your own, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Run air conditioning while at your house or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Equalize your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring kinds for reducing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 360-255-5857 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal unit for your residence and budget.