If you’re unsure whether your Lafayette house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a pro like AC Sales about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When looking for 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 house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

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

Lasting Odors

New residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which solution is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity around 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 creates a serious health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big amounts.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working like it should. This service allows our techs to pinpoint troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the AC Sales Experts

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at (337) 234-2345 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your home and budget.