If you’re uncertain whether your Norton house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a expert like HCE Systems about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by regular household products.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

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

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

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which type is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running like it should. This work allows our pros to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the HCE Systems Experts

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 276-302-0076 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your family and budget.