If you’re questioning whether your Arlington house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In 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 might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a specialist like Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by regular household items.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting 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 redistributed by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

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

Lasting Odors

New houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced 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 causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating properly. This work allows our specialists to discover problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 360-255-5857 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the best option for your needs and budget.