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

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a professional like Wallpe Heating & Cooling about which options are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household products.

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

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

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

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help vapors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When looking for 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 continuously gets redistributed by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is ideal for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around 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 poses a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in large concentrations.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating smoothly. This work allows our technicians to spot troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Wallpe Heating & Cooling Specialists

Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 812-663-7252 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you find the best option for your needs and budget.