If you’re unsure whether your Lake Forest residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes may be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.
Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most frequent origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a pro like 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. about which solutions are ideal for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes build up inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help vapors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment works with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When looking for one, make sure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s heating and cooling unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.
This solution hooks to your heating and cooling unit to give strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-quality filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Modern homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for an extended amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our experts for more information on which solution is right for your house.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity remains balanced. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.
Our techs advise 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over installing 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 balanced humidity throughout your residence.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s incomplete combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It causes a serious health risk. In low amounts, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy levels.
We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating smoothly. This work allows our techs to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living areas.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Pros
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 949-204-0859 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your needs and budget.