If you’re uncertain whether your Sarasota residence has poor 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 can create long-term health issues.
Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a professional like Airtech Cooling & Heating about which options are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household products.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 outdoors.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help fumes disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out 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 house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.
This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Newer homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Musty 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 an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.
Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity throughout 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 poses a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating like it should. This job allows our professionals to see issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on all floors close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Airtech Cooling & Heating Pros
Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 941-377-7956 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you find the best option for your home and budget.