If you’re unsure whether your Elk River house 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 problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest talking with a expert like Home Comfort Heating & Air about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household items.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these fumes accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help fumes disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment 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 stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It presents a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large amounts.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating smoothly. This service allows our professionals to spot issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Home Comfort Heating & Air Professionals

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 763-276-0617 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you find the right equipment for your home and budget.