If you’re uncertain whether your Florissant home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We spend much of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes may be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of poor 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 house, we advise chatting with a professional like B & B Heating & Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household items.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help chemicals disperse more quickly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit works with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, check that it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your residence’s heating and cooling equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.
This unit works with your comfort unit to deliver strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-grade filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Modern houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is taking in reduced fresh air. Because 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 put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our experts for more information on which type is right for your residence.
Uneven Humidity
It’s essential your home’s humidity remains steady. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think over installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity across your home.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It presents a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in heavy concentrations.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is running properly. This service allows our technicians to spot issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living areas.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the B & B Heating & Cooling Specialists
Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 314-325-7552 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs and budget.