We spend a lot of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors accounts for 90% of our days. However, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

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

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. Consequently, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it can help freshen the air circulating across your house.

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 could also be appropriate if you or a loved one has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

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

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling equipment to treat your entire house. Some models can purify on their own when your HVAC equipment isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA warns ozone might worsen respiratory troubles, even when emitted at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a list of questions to ask 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 bigger amount means air will be purified faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises doing other measures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you must do these chores on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower right away and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Turn on the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system.
  5. Even out your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested 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 Requirements

Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 319-208-2351 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you find the ideal system for your home and budget.