If you’re unsure whether your Ellsworth residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC about which options are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household items.

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

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, 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. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which kind is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our techs suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating like it should. This job allows our specialists to find troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC Specialists

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 715-318-6728 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.