If you’re unsure whether your Huntingburg house 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 residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Dearing's Service & Solutions about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, 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 fatal in heavy levels.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating properly. This work allows our technicians to find 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 get detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Dearing's Service & Solutions Specialists

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 812-200-5844 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your needs and budget.