If you’re questioning whether your Warrenton home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common origins of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a professional like Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household products.

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 cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New houses are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house 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 cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over 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 balanced 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a severe health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy amounts.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working properly. This job allows our specialists to pinpoint troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning Pros

Aware that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 636-456-5041 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your home and budget.