If you’re unsure whether your Manassas home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most ordinary causes of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a specialist like Air-Right Energy Design about which options are best for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes 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 vapors accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically created 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 equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.
This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
New homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and replaces 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 type is best for your house.
Uneven Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.
Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.
In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity throughout 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 poses a severe health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big amounts.
We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running smoothly. This job allows our technicians to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.
Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Air-Right Energy Design Experts
Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 703-260-1148 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.
