If you’re questioning whether your West Jefferson residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building 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 could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a professional like West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household items.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create 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 greater than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to give strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider 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 even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big levels.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running like it should. This job allows our specialists to spot issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. Professionals

Know that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 614-879-9091 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.