If you’re questioning whether your Woodbridge residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.
Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common origins of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a professional like Fire & Ice HVAC about which solutions are ideal for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in 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 worse than the air outdoors.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate 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 system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
New homes are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which type is best for your residence.
Uneven Humidity
It’s essential your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.
Our specialists suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.
In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity throughout 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 causes a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big levels.
We recommend annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating smoothly. This service allows our technicians to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Fire & Ice HVAC Pros
Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 703-595-4157 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your home and budget.