If you’re questioning whether your West Valley City house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We spend a lot of time inside. In reality, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses may be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could lead to long-term health concerns.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a pro like Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by common household products.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to 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 greater than the air outdoors.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate more quickly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit works with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When seeking one, make sure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s HVAC system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.
This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling system to provide strong filtration. Some kinds have hospital-quality filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Modern houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can stay around longer as your house is taking in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year round isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our specialists for more information on which type is best for your house.
Uneven Humidity
It’s important your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.
Our techs suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about installing 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 around your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of unfinished combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses an extreme health risk. In low concentrations, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large levels.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating like it should. This work allows our techs to see issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living areas.
Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals
Aware that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 801-305-4777 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your family and budget.