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

We are indoors a lot. 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 residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a professional like Rescue Heating & Air about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’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 HVAC equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy 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 info on which kind is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory troubles.

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

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large levels.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running properly. This job allows our pros to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Rescue Heating & Air Specialists

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 361-265-4371 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you find the right equipment for your home and budget.