If you’re questioning whether your Savage house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re in a building 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 problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the issues they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a expert like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning about which products are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household items.

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 can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always use the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help fumes disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When hunting for a model, 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 continually gets moved by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

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

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

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

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large concentrations.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working like it should. This service allows our specialists to spot problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning Pros

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 952-373-0377 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.