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

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

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a expert like Forster Heating about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household things.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in 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 use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity across 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 presents an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running properly. This service allows our techs to spot problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Forster Heating Experts

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 530-885-8081 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.