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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a specialist like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

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

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

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment 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 stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our pros to discover troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Bain Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 256-270-1196 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your needs and budget.