If you’re unsure whether your Bloomfield home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, 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 worse than outdoors, which might result in long-term health problems.
Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Stanford Heating & Cooling about which options are ideal for your house.
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 fumes collect inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear more quickly.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit works with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When seeking one, 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 redistributed by your home’s HVAC system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your HVAC system to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-quality filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stick around longer since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes 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 specialists for more details on which type is ideal for your residence.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s important your house’s humidity keeps balanced. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.
Our pros recommend 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.
Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution provides balanced humidity across your home.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is clear gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of incomplete combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In small concentrations, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big concentrations.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working smoothly. This service allows our pros to discover issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Stanford Heating & Cooling Professionals
Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 812-825-8695 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right solution for your family and budget.