If you’re unsure whether your Northridge residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. 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 trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

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

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in big levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating smoothly. This job allows our technicians to spot issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating Experts

Know that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at (818) 727-9993 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.