If you’re uncertain whether your Circleville home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

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

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a pro like Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling about which solutions are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by everyday household products.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, 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 guidelines when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help fumes disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern homes are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.

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

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around 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 small levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in large levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating smoothly. This service allows our techs to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling Pros

Informed that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 740-474-5940 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.