Do Air Purifiers Reduce Allergies?

We spend lots of time inside. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated being within a building makes up 90% of our time. Having said that, the EPA also says 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 boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bills, it’s not so great if you’re amid the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

When outdoors ventilation is limited, pollutants such as dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can get trapped. As a result, these pollutants may irritate your allergies.

You can boost your indoor air quality with crisp air and regular cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms while you’re at your house, an air purifier may be able to provide relief.

While it can’t remove pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or carpet, it might help clean the air circulating across 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 can also be helpful if you or a loved one has a lung condition, including emphysema or COPD.

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll discuss the distinctions so you can determine what’s right 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 accompanies your HVAC system to treat your entire residence. Some kinds can clean on their own when your home comfort unit isn’t on.

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?

Look for a purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are placed in hospitals and offer the most comprehensive filtration you can get, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when installed with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This mighty blend can wipe out dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, evaluate a system that also has a carbon-based filter to reduce household odors.

Avoid using an air purifier that creates ozone, which is the main component in smog. The EPA warns ozone could irritate respiratory problems, even when emitted at low settings.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has created a checklist of questions to ask 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 amount means air will be purified more quickly.)
• How regularly does the filter or UV bulb need to be replaced]? Can I do that without help?
• How much do new filters or bulbs cost?

How to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to get the {top|most excellent|best] results from your new air purification equipment? The Mayo Clinic recommends doing other steps to limit your exposure to seasonal allergy triggers.

1. Stay inside and keep windows and doors sealed when pollen counts are heightened.
2. Have other family members cut the lawn or pull weeds, since these jobs can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these jobs on your own, you might want to consider trying a pollen mask. You should also rinse off without delay and change your clothes once you’re finished.
3. Avoid drying laundry outside your home.
4. Use your air conditioner while at your house or while in the car. Consider adding a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort equipment.
5. Balance your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.
6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring materials for lowering indoor allergens. If your residence has carpet, use a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Take Care of Your Indoor Air Quality Requirements

Want to move forward with adding a whole-house air purifier? Give our experts a call at (503) 739-5400 or contact us online to request an appointment. We’ll help you find the right equipment for your home and budget.