We spend lots of time inside. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building accounts for 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outdoors.

That’s because our homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bills, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier could be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpet, it might help clean the air traveling across your residence.

And air purification has also been scientifically confirmed to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be useful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, like 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 figure out what’s appropriate 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 equipment to treat your complete residence. Some types can work on their own when your home comfort equipment 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 installed in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may irritate respiratory issues, even when discharged at low settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to think over when buying an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be freshened faster.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I complete that without help?
  • 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 equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other measures to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you are required to do these jobs yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe immediately and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Run air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 541-238-2797 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you locate the ideal unit for your residence and budget.