If you’re uncertain whether your Justin home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a pro like Pepper AC & Heat about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may 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 pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting 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 continually gets recirculated by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

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

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down harmful VOCs. This equipment 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 musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is right for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

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

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around 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 produces an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working properly. This service allows our technicians to spot problems before they get bigger, 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 need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Pepper AC & Heat Pros

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 940-202-1184 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the right solution for your family and budget.