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

That’s due to the fact our residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so great if you’re a part of the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outside ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get stuck. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier could be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have gotten trapped in your couch or flooring, it could help freshen the air traveling around your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically proven to help reduce some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or someone in your household 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 advantages so you can learn 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 works alongside your HVAC equipment to purify your full home. Some types can purify on their own when your heating and cooling equipment isn’t operating.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for an option with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and provide the best filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the ultimate in air purification, consider equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone may worsen respiratory problems, even when released at low concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher number means air will be cleaned more rapidly.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be switched]? Can I do that by myself?
  • How much do new 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 suggests doing other steps to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can aggravate symptoms. If you are required to do this work on your own, you may want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Use your air conditioner while indoors or while you’re on the road. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your home’s home comfort system.
  5. Even out your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Pros Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Want to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 281-231-8768 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right system for your family and budget.