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

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a professional like J & J Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household products.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can 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 fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate 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 home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

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

Lasting Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big concentrations.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running like it should. This service allows our pros to pinpoint troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the J & J Air Conditioning Experts

Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 254-355-3833 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your needs and budget.