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

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re indoors 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 concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary origins of poor IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a expert like Pratt Brothers about which products are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household items.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate indoors, 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 space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate 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 home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is ideal for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

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

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity across 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 poses a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in big levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. This work allows our technicians to pinpoint troubles before they start, 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 need to be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Pratt Brothers Specialists

Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 920-347-8495 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you choose the best option for your home and budget.