If you’re unsure whether your East Bernard residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a professional like E.B. Air about which products are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by 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 accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is ideal for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running properly. This work allows our pros to find troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the E.B. Air Professionals

Know that your house has bad 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 979-335-4262 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the best option for your family and budget.