If you’re unsure whether your Frederick home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. In 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 more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.
Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a pro like May's Heating & Air about which solutions are a good fit for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home 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 outdoors.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help chemicals disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, 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 continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Newer residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones 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 crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your home.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.
Our specialists suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity around 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 poses a serious health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy amounts.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working properly. This work allows our specialists to find problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor by bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the May's Heating & Air Pros
Aware that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 301-690-0397 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the best solution for your needs and budget.