We spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being within a building comprises 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also has found your indoor air can be three to five times more polluted than outdoors.

That’s due to the fact our houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is restricted, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get captured. Consequently, these pollutants might worsen your allergies.

You can improve your indoor air quality with fresh air and regular dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still struggling with symptoms when you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have settled on your couch or carpet, it can help clean the air circulating throughout your home.

And air purification has also been scientifically verified to help lessen some allergic symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It may also be useful if you or a loved one has lung trouble, like emphysema or COPD.

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

Whole-House Air Purifier vs. Portable Air Purifiers

A portable air purifier is for a lone room. A whole-house air purifier works with your heating and cooling unit to treat your complete residence. Some models can work on their own when your home comfort system isn’t running.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Go after a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and deliver the greatest filtration you can find, as they trap 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are standard allergens. For the greatest in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to decrease household smells.

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the primary element in smog. The EPA advises ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at low amounts.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a list of questions to consider when buying an air purifier.

  • What can this purifier extract from the air? What doesn’t it extract?
  • What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A bigger number means air will be cleaned faster.)
  • How often does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I finish that without help?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

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

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
  2. Have someone else trim the lawn or pull weeds, since these tasks can worsen symptoms. If you must do these chores alone, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also bathe right away and change your clothes once you’re completed.
  3. Avoid stringing up laundry outdoors.
  4. Use the AC while at home or while you’re on the road. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your home’s HVAC equipment.
  5. Equalize your home’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring types for decreasing indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Specialists Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Prepared to move forward with getting a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 812-200-5844 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right equipment for your house and budget.