If you’re questioning whether your Payson residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We spend much of our time indoors. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses can be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can lead to long-term health concerns.
Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a specialist like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling about which products are a good fit for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common 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 inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking one, check that 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 continuously gets moved by your residence’s HVAC system. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This unit connects with your comfort system to provide mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is taking in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our technicians for more details on which solution is right for your residence.
Unbalanced Humidity
It’s essential your residence’s humidity stays balanced. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.
Our professionals advise 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider buying a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution provides consistent humidity around your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s unfinished combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It poses a severe health risk. In little amounts, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in heavy levels.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. This work allows our specialists to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.
Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the North Mechanical Heating and Cooling Specialists
Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 928-263-8570 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the right equipment for your needs and budget.