If you’re uncertain whether your Houston house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 can be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which may lead to long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a pro like Marcos AC & Heating 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 in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes collect inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When hunting for a system, make sure 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 continually gets redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy a better air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
New houses are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stay around longer because your house is drawing in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our experts for more info on which solution is right for your house.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity stays steady. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.
Our professionals advise 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think over installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.
In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent humidity across your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses an extreme health risk. In little concentrations, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large amounts.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating properly. This job allows our professionals to pinpoint problems before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Marcos AC & Heating Specialists
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 713-469-3357 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the best option for your family and budget.