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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside 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 contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Appalachian Heating about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular 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 in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 outdoors.

Always use the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give strong filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

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 ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

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

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a severe health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating like it should. This service allows our techs to spot issues before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Appalachian Heating Professionals

Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 304-877-5566 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your needs and budget.