If you’re questioning whether your Muskogee residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We spend a lot of time inside. 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 houses can be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may lead to long-term health problems.
Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a professional like Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. about which solutions are ideal for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors collect in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment works with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When seeking a model, check that it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get a better air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.
This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-grade filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Modern houses are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is drawing in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate 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 loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our specialists for more information on which type is ideal for your home.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.
Our professionals advise 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.
Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment gives 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 a serious health risk. In small concentrations, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big concentrations.
We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working like it should. This job allows our specialists to pinpoint problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. Experts
Aware that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 918-682-8238 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.