We spend a lot of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approximated being indoors makes up 90% of our schedule. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times worse than outside your home.

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

When outdoor ventilation is restricted, pollutants like dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might get trapped. As a result, these pollutants may aggravate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and routine dusting and vacuuming. But if you’re still having problems with symptoms while you’re at your residence, an air purifier may be able to help.

While it can’t eliminate pollutants that have landed on your furnishings or carpet, it could help freshen the air moving throughout your house.

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 can also be helpful if you or someone in your household has lung trouble, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two models, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll examine the differences 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 one room. A whole-house air purifier works with your home comfort system to purify your complete house. Some types can work on their own when your heating and cooling unit 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 deliver the greatest filtration you can buy, as they eliminate 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more beneficial 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 best in air purification, evaluate equipment that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that generates ozone, which is the main element in smog. The EPA warns ozone might irritate respiratory issues, even when emitted at minor settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has compiled a checklist of questions to think over when getting 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 quickly.)
  • How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be changed]? Can I complete that on my own?
  • How much do spare filters or bulbs cost?

How to Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic recommends completing other measures to decrease your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

  1. Stay in your home and keep windows and doors shut when pollen counts are high.
  2. Have other family members mow the lawn or pull weeds, since this work can irritate symptoms. If you must do these jobs alone, consider using a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and put on clean clothes once you’re finished.
  3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.
  4. Run air conditioning while indoors or while in the car. Consider installing a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s heating and cooling equipment.
  5. Balance your house’s humidity saturation with a whole-house dehumidifier.
  6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, install a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Manage Your Indoor Air Quality Needs

Ready to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at 703-278-2036 or contact us online to get an appointment. We’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your family and budget.