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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a pro like AC Sales about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by everyday household products.

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

  • 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 cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which kind is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in large amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working like it should. This job allows our specialists to see problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on all floors close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the AC Sales Professionals

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at (337) 234-2345 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right solution for your needs and budget.