If you’re questioning whether your Tucker house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In 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 can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend consulting with a expert like ACS Heating and Air Conditioning about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these fumes accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to 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 use the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’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 unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in large amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating properly. This service allows our pros to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the ACS Heating and Air Conditioning Professionals

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 770-450-1539 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.