If you’re unsure whether your Delray Beach residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Kilbourne Heating & AC about which solutions are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by common household things.

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 can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When hunting for 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 constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence 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 fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down 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 takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges 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 solution is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working properly. This job allows our technicians to pinpoint problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Kilbourne Heating & AC Pros

Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 561-287-7071 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your home and budget.