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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 worse than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Childress Heating & AC about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by 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 in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer homes are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

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

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 creates an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running properly. This job allows our professionals to discover issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

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

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 540-675-4306 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the right solution for your family and budget.