If you’re uncertain whether your Lafayette home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a expert like AC Sales about which products are ideal for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from regular household items.
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 house is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help fumes disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.
This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Newer houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out dangerous 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 takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which kind is ideal for your residence.
Uneven Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.
Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy amounts.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working properly. This job allows our technicians to see problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.
Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the AC Sales Pros
Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at (337) 234-2345 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the best option for your needs and budget.