If you’re unsure whether your Marshalltown residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a expert like B & G HVAC about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create 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 greater than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 moved by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous 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 pulls out musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating properly. This work allows our technicians to see problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the B & G HVAC Experts

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 641-316-3360 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you locate the right equipment for your family and budget.