If you’re questioning whether your Plover home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In 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 could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a specialist like Point Heating & Cooling about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from 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 chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New homes are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is ideal for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s 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 create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big levels.

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

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Point Heating & Cooling Experts

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 715-504-0533 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the best solution for your needs and budget.