If you’re uncertain whether your Seymour house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside 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 may create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve made 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 troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a pro like Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help vapors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’s comfort equipment. 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 comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Modern houses are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your house’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.
Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It produces a severe health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating properly. This work allows our professionals to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor by bedrooms and living spaces.
Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning Professionals
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 920-833-7967 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the right option for your home and budget.