If you’re uncertain whether your Covington home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Covington Air Systems about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular household items.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

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

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can lead to 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 HVAC unit.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in heavy amounts.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our technicians to see issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Covington Air Systems Experts

Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at (770) 462-5319 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.