If you’re unsure whether your Alliance house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of bad 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 recommend chatting with a specialist like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces about which solutions are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household things.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to give strong filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of 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 cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

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

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our professionals to find troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces Experts

Informed that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 308-762-1613 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.