If you’re uncertain whether your Carpentersville residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a expert like Controlled Comfort HVAC about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from everyday household things.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may 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 fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When hunting for a system, 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 continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. Because 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 placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates a serious health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is operating smoothly. This work allows our specialists to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Controlled Comfort HVAC Pros

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 224-412-8308 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best option for your home and budget.