Are There Ways to Know I Have Bad Air Quality?

If you’re unsure whether your Warrenton residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

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

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a specialist like Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household products.

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

• Furniture

• Carpet

• Building materials

• Cleaning products

• Cosmetics

• Air fresheners

• Candles

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

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to clean 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 moved by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

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

Lasting Odors

New homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a serious health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big amounts.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating smoothly. This work allows our professionals to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning Pros

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 636-456-5041 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.