If you’re questioning whether your Manassas residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

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

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a expert like Air-Right Energy Design about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from 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 inside, they might 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 higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen 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 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 kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Instead 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy amounts.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating like it should. This work allows our specialists to spot problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Air-Right Energy Design Specialists

Aware that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 703-260-1148 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your needs and budget.