If you’re unsure whether your Siloam Springs house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent causes of poor IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a professional like Siloam Springs Heating & AC about which options are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular household things.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they can 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 pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Rather than having to pull 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 caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in heavy amounts.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running properly. This job allows our technicians to discover troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on each floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Siloam Springs Heating & AC Experts

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 479-308-8176 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.