If you’re questioning whether your Fredericksburg home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a expert like Childress Heating & AC about which solutions are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by common household items.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these fumes accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear 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 one, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which type is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

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

It creates an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating properly. This work allows our pros to see troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Childress Heating & AC Professionals

Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 540-675-4306 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you choose the right equipment for your needs and budget.