If you’re uncertain whether your Thedford home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are best for your home.

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 indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate 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, 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 residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less 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 cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

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

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity across 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 creates a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is operating like it should. This job allows our techs to discover problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 519-296-4437 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your needs and budget.