We spend lots of time in our homes. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

That’s because our homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a result, these pollutants can aggravate your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and usual housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furnishings or carpeting, it might help freshen the air moving around your house.

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 could also be useful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, like emphysema or COPD.

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

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a single room. A whole-house air purifier accompanies your heating and cooling equipment to treat your complete residence. Some kinds can purify on their own when your heating and cooling system isn’t operating.

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 offer the greatest filtration you can get, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

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

Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top ingredient in smog. The EPA cautions ozone may aggravate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at small settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to think over when purchasing an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it take out?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better figure means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do replacement filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic suggests taking other measures to decrease your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can trigger symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also shower without delay and put on new clothes once you’re done.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outdoors.
  4. Run the AC while at your house or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system.
  5. Balance your residence’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Prepared to take the next step with getting 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 choose the right equipment for your family and budget.