If you’re questioning whether your Huntsville house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 made a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the troubles 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 pro like All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc about which solutions are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday 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 indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause 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 greater than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less 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 fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory troubles.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy amounts.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running smoothly. This job allows our professionals to pinpoint issues before they begin, 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 must be on all floors close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Pros

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 256-801-4701 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your needs and budget.