If you’re uncertain whether your Narvon home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a professional like Ameri-Tec about which options are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household items.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful 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 exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is best for your home.
Uneven 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 troubles.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.
Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity across your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy amounts.
We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running smoothly. This work allows our technicians to find issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Ameri-Tec Professionals
Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 717-479-4950 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your needs and budget.