If you’re unsure whether your Athol residence has unhealthy 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.
Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a pro like Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling about which products are a good fit for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals 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 space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which solution is right for your home.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.
Instead of having to lug 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’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.
We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working properly. This service allows our technicians to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Alpine Summit Heating & Cooling Experts
Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 208-561-1226 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your needs and budget.
