If you’re uncertain whether your Heflin house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside 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 may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a pro like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household things.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create 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 use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which type is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

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

In place of having to lug 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’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a serious health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our techs to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Bain Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 256-270-1196 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the right equipment for your family and budget.