If you’re questioning whether your Savage home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of poor IAQ, the problems they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a expert like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household products.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home 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 outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because 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 put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top 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 pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 poses an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large amounts.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our pros to pinpoint problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning Experts

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 952-373-0377 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.