If you’re questioning whether your Manassas house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a expert like Air-Right Energy Design about which solutions are a good fit for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household products.
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 cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help fumes dissipate faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 redistributed by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.
This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Newer houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is ideal for your home.
Uneven Humidity
It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.
Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity around 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 presents a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.
We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working properly. This service allows our professionals to find troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Air-Right Energy Design Specialists
Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 703-260-1148 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your family and budget.