If you’re questioning whether your Marshfield house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a professional like House of Heating Incorporated about which options are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, 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 guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating like it should. This job allows our technicians to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the House of Heating Incorporated Specialists

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 715-384-3163 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your home and budget.