If you’re uncertain whether your Athol house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside 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 polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a specialist like Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling about which options are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by everyday household products.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out 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 residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

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

Lasting Odors

Newer homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, 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. 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 installed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which type is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running properly. This job allows our pros to spot problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling Professionals

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 208-561-1226 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your family and budget.