If you’re unsure whether your Sandpoint home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a professional like Age Heating & Cooling about which solutions are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by 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 chemicals accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When seeking 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 redistributed by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which type is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity around 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 poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big concentrations.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating like it should. This job allows our techs to discover issues before they get bigger, 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 should be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Age Heating & Cooling Pros

Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 208-603-2210 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your needs and budget.