If you’re uncertain whether your Northridge home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.
Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a professional like Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating about which options are a good fit for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household things.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.
Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help chemicals disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which type is right for your residence.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.
Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity across your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big levels.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running smoothly. This service allows our techs to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Enertek Air Conditioning & Heating Pros
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at (818) 727-9993 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.