If you’re questioning whether your Muskogee home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a specialist like Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 greater than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions 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 system to freshen indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which type is right for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working smoothly. This service allows our technicians to spot troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. Pros

Aware that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 918-682-8238 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you find the right option for your home and budget.