If you’re questioning whether your Dundas and Northfield residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Better Air about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from common 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 can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, 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 constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. As 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 installed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around 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 small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working properly. This work allows our techs to see issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on each floor near bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Better Air Specialists

Aware that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 507-663-1208 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.