If you’re uncertain whether your Alice home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common 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 suggest consulting with a expert like Rescue Heating & Air about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

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

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household 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 fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity across 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 causes a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running properly. This work allows our technicians to discover troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Rescue Heating & Air Specialists

Aware that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 361-265-4371 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the best option for your needs and budget.