If you’re questioning whether your Circleville home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a expert like Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling about which options are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household items.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these fumes accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our pros to discover problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling Experts

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.