If you’re questioning whether your Wharton house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences may be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may lead to long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary origins of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a pro like Faust Air Conditioning and Heating about which solutions are best for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household products.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors build up inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors disperse more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This system collaborates with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your home’s heating and cooling unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.
This unit connects with your HVAC unit to give mighty filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is drawing in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our experts for more information on which type is best for your house.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity keeps balanced. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, consider installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product gives consistent humidity throughout your home.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of incomplete combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses a severe health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy levels.
We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running like it should. This work allows our pros to spot issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor near bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Faust Air Conditioning and Heating Pros
Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 979-323-6130 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the right option for your home and budget.