If you’re unsure whether your Arlington residence has poor 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 houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a specialist like Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are a good fit for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.
This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which type is ideal for your house.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s important your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.
Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.
Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity around 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 poses an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big amounts.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is operating like it should. This job allows our techs to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living areas.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning Experts
Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 360-255-5857 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right equipment for your needs and budget.