We spend a lot of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being inside comprises 90% of our schedule. However, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

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

When outdoor ventilation is insufficient, pollutants including dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get captured. As a consequence, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can enhance your indoor air quality with clean air and routine housework and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to provide assistance.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your furnishings or carpeting, it may help freshen the air moving around your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lower some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It could also be appropriate if you or a family member has lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.

There are two kinds, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the advantages so you can determine what’s appropriate for your home.

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 system to purify your entire home. Some models can clean independent when your HVAC system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

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

HEPA filters are even more powerful when used with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful mixture can eliminate dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are general allergens. For the best in air purification, think over a system that also has a carbon-based filter to eliminate household odors.

Avoid getting an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA cautions ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when released at small concentrations.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has made a list of questions to consider 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 bigger amount means air will be cleaned more quickly.)
  • How frequently does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that on my own?
  • How much do replacement 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 measures to reduce your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can worsen symptoms. If you must do these chores yourself, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also bathe without delay and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
  4. Turn on your air conditioner while indoors or while driving. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Balance your home’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the ideal flooring materials for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Prepared to move forward with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 775-854-9700 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the right system for your home and budget.