If you’re questioning whether your Heflin house has bad 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a professional like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household items.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help fumes disperse 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 made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

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

Lasting Odors

New residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed 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 harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity around 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 creates an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is operating like it should. This service allows our specialists to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Bain Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

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