If you’re unsure whether your Auburn home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside 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 can create long-term health problems.
Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix 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 options are ideal for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular household products.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- 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 can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.
This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Newer houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your residence.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.
Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity across your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in large amounts.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating smoothly. This job allows our technicians to see problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Forster Heating Experts
Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 530-885-8081 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.