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

We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary causes of poor IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a pro like SKC AC LLC about which solutions are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household things.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these fumes 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 space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

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

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, 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 solution delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big amounts.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working properly. This work allows our specialists to pinpoint issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the SKC AC LLC Professionals

Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 432-203-4881 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the right option for your family and budget.