If you’re questioning whether your Safford home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend consulting with a professional like B&D Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by regular household products.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors build up in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This equipment collaborates with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When looking for one, check that it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your residence’s heating and cooling equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.
This equipment works with your comfort unit to deliver mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-quality filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Modern homes are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around longer as your home is drawing in less 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 fresher.
An air purification system is put in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our specialists for more info on which kind is right for your residence.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.
Our experts recommend 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.
Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution provides balanced humidity across your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is gas you can’t see or smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In small concentrations, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big levels.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running properly. This service allows our pros to spot troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the B&D Air Conditioning Experts
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 928-432-6018 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your needs and budget.