If you’re uncertain whether your Justin residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside 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 could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of inferior IAQ, the problems they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we advise talking with a expert like Pepper AC & Heat about which solutions are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular household items.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Instead of having to lug 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 occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a serious health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in big concentrations.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating smoothly. This job allows our professionals to discover issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Pepper AC & Heat Experts

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 940-202-1184 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.