If you’re uncertain whether your Crystal and Twin Cities residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could lead to long-term health concerns.
Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a expert like GV Heating & Air about which products are best for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by regular household items.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors build up indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also help. This unit works with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When seeking a model, make sure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some types provide hospital-grade filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stick around longer since your house is taking in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our technicians for more details on which type is best for your house.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s essential your home’s humidity keeps steady. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our technicians advise 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, consider installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.
In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product gives balanced humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It causes an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large concentrations.
We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working smoothly. This service allows our pros to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.
Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the GV Heating & Air Specialists
Aware that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 763-535-2000 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your home and budget.