If you’re uncertain whether your Troy home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest chatting with a professional like Edington Heating & Cooling Inc about which products are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 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 better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

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

Persistent Odors

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

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary 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 systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy concentrations.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating properly. This job allows our specialists to spot problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on each floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Edington Heating & Cooling Inc Experts

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 937-558-9478 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your family and budget.