If you’re unsure whether your Dresden house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a professional like McFadden Heating & Cooling about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by common household items.

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

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 continuously gets moved by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out 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 models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

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 HVAC equipment.

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working smoothly. This work allows our techs to spot problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the McFadden Heating & Cooling Experts

Informed that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 1-866-781-0111 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your family and budget.