If you’re unsure whether your Longview residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a professional like Goode Bros AC & Heating about which products are ideal for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by regular household things.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is installed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your house.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.
In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy levels.
We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating smoothly. This service allows our pros to discover troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Goode Bros AC & Heating Pros
Informed that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 903-284-2612 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the best option for your home and budget.
