If you’re unsure whether your Central Point house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released 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 fumes accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help chemicals disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate 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 house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Modern residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh 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 best for your residence.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.
In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large amounts.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working smoothly. This service allows our professionals to pinpoint troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Titan Heating & Air Conditioning Experts
Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 541-286-6617 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your family and budget.