If you’re unsure whether your Norton residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a pro like HCE Systems about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 higher than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When seeking a system, 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 moved by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

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

Lasting Odors

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

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

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

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

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 creates an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in large concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating properly. This job allows our pros to discover problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor near bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the HCE Systems Professionals

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 276-302-0076 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your family and budget.