If you’re questioning whether your Booneville residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a professional like Booneville Heating & Cooling about which solutions are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular household items.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created 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 equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As 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 installed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which type is ideal for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working properly. This work allows our pros to discover issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Booneville Heating & Cooling Professionals

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