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

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

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

You can improve your indoor air quality with crisp air and usual cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms when you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have landed on your couch or carpet, it may help clean the air moving across your house.

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 might also be useful if you or a family member has a lung condition, such as emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can determine 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 complete home. Some kinds can clean on their own when your HVAC equipment isn’t operating.

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 provide the best filtration you can buy, 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 mixture can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, consider a unit that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that makes ozone, which is the top element in smog. The EPA advises ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at minor concentrations.

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

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it remove?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A better amount means air will be purified faster.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish 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] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other procedures to decrease your exposure to problems that can cause seasonal allergies.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other household members trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do this work alone, consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and put on new clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outside.
  4. Use air conditioning while at home or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your house’s heating and cooling unit.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity levels with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the suggested flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to progress with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our professionals a call at 530-885-8081 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you find the best system for your family and budget.