If you’re uncertain whether your Reinholds house has bad 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 residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a professional like County Line Mechanical LLC about which products are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular household things.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New residences are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out 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 info on which solution is best for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in big concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working like it should. This job allows our technicians to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the County Line Mechanical LLC Specialists

Informed that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 717-216-0846 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your family and budget.