If you’re uncertain whether your Pocatello residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend talking with a specialist like Vogts Heating & Air about which options are best for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household products.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors dissipate faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your home’s comfort unit. 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 kinds provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which type is best for your home.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.
Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.
Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large amounts.
We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working properly. This job allows our specialists to find troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Vogts Heating & Air Experts
Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 208-621-0129 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.