If you’re questioning whether your Circleville house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors 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 contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a professional like Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help vapors dissipate faster.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.
This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is right for your house.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.
Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy levels.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is working like it should. This work allows our pros to discover issues before they start, 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 must be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling Specialists
Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the best option for your needs and budget.