If you’re uncertain whether your Macon house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may lead to long-term health concerns.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a expert like Air Temperature Control about which solutions are a good fit for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household products.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals build up indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disappear more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit collaborates with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When looking for a model, make sure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s heating and cooling equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This solution connects with your HVAC unit to deliver powerful filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Newer homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stay around for an extended amount of time since your home is taking in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year round isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems 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 musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our techs for more info on which kind is best for your residence.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity stays steady. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.
Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment provides consistent humidity across your home.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is gas you can’t see or smell. It occurs when there’s unfinished combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It presents a severe health risk. In little amounts, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in large amounts.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working properly. This service allows our specialists to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Air Temperature Control Professionals
Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 478-202-3170 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.