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

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

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a expert like All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household things.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause 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 worse than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help fumes disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which type is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity across 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 serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating properly. This service allows our professionals to pinpoint problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Specialists

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 256-801-4701 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your family and budget.