If you’re unsure whether your Booneville home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest talking with a professional like Booneville Heating & Cooling about which solutions are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household products.

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 may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 greater than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate 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 comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round 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 wipe out odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates a severe health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy amounts.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is working like it should. This service allows our specialists to spot problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Booneville Heating & Cooling Specialists

Informed that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 662-269-8716 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the best option for your home and budget.