If you’re uncertain whether your Alliance residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a pro like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular 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 may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help odors dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big amounts.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating properly. This work allows our pros to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces Pros

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 308-321-4703 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.