If you’re questioning whether your Delray Beach house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a pro like Kilbourne Heating & AC about which products are best for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular household products.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.
Always use the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.
This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
Newer homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is best for your residence.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.
Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a severe health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy concentrations.
We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running properly. This work allows our specialists to pinpoint issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Kilbourne Heating & AC Professionals
Know that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 561-287-7071 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your family and budget.