If you’re uncertain whether your Kutztown and Breinigsville house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building 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 might result in long-term health issues.
Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we advise talking with a professional like Moyer Total Indoor Comfort about which products are best for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by regular household items.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors collect inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.
Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help vapors disappear more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit collaborates with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a system, check that it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your residence’s HVAC system. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.
This equipment works with your comfort system to provide powerful filtration. Some models provide hospital-quality filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Modern houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around longer as your house is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our specialists for more info on which type is right for your home.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity keeps balanced. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.
Our experts advise 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think about buying a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.
Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product provides consistent humidity around your home.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is clear 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 presents a severe health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large concentrations.
We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating like it should. This work allows our techs to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.
Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Moyer Total Indoor Comfort Specialists
Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 484-646-3363 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your needs and budget.