Solved!: Do Air Purifiers Help with Allergies?

We spend lots of time indoors. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined being within a building accounts for 90% of our days. Having said that, the EPA also says your indoor air can be three to five times dirtier than outdoors.

That’s due to the fact our houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so great if you’re among the 40% of the population with respiratory allergies.

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

You can boost your indoor air quality with clean air and routine cleaning and vacuuming. But if you’re still having issues with symptoms during the time you’re at home, an air purifier might be able to provide relief.

While it can’t get rid of pollutants that have gotten trapped in your furniture or flooring, it could help clean the air traveling throughout your house.

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

There are two options, a portable air purifier or a whole-home air purifier. We’ll go over the differences so you can learn 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 system to clean your full house. Some kinds can purify on their own when your home comfort unit 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 placed in hospitals and offer the greatest filtration you can find, as they catch 99.97% of particles in the air.

HEPA filters are even more useful when combined with an ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light. This powerful combination can destroy dust, dander, pollen and mold, all of which are common allergens. For the best in air purification, consider a unit 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 advises ozone could aggravate respiratory troubles, even when released at minor settings.

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

• What can this purifier remove from the air? What doesn’t it remove?

• What’s its clean air delivery rate? (A higher amount means air will be freshened more rapidly.)

• How often 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 Decrease Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Want to have the {top|most excellent|best] performance from your new air purification system? The Mayo Clinic advises taking other measures to limit your exposure to things that can trigger seasonal allergies.

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 these tasks can aggravate symptoms. If you have to do these chores yourself, you might want to consider wearing a pollen mask. You should also shower immediately and change your clothes once you’re done.

3. Avoid hanging laundry outdoors.

4. Run the AC while at home or while in the car. Consider using a high efficiency air filter in your residence’s home comfort unit.

5. Equalize your residence’s humidity percentage with a whole-house dehumidifier.

6. Hardwood, tile or linoleum are the best flooring kinds for lowering indoor allergens. If your home has carpet, add a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner.

Let Our Professionals Handle Your Indoor Air Quality Necessities

Ready to progress with installing a whole-house air purifier? Give our specialists a call at 636-456-5041 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you choose the right unit for your family and budget.