If you’re questioning whether your Bloomfield residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a professional like Stanford Heating & Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday 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 in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater 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 faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in heavy levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running smoothly. This work allows our specialists to see problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Stanford Heating & Cooling Specialists

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 812-825-8695 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the right equipment for your home and budget.