We spend a good majority of our time inside. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being inside accounts for 90% of our time. However, the EPA also has determined your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

That’s because our houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so fantastic if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

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

You can enhance your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpet, it can help clean the air traveling throughout 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 might also be useful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the advantages so you can learn what’s right for your home.

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for one room. A whole-house air purifier works alongside your heating and cooling unit to purify your entire house. Some kinds can clean on their own when your home comfort system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Seek a model with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are installed in hospitals and deliver the best filtration you can buy, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more powerful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This dynamic blend can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household vapors.

Avoid buying an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the top component in smog. The EPA cautions ozone might irritate respiratory troubles, even when emitted at minor amounts.

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

  • What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be purified more rapidly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I do that without help?
  • How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Lessen Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to receive the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends taking other steps to reduce your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you must do these jobs yourself, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also rinse off right away and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outside.
  4. Use air conditioning while at your house or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Equalize your residence’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Ready to take the next step with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 805-242-9638 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you locate the right unit for your house and budget.