If you’re unsure whether your Carpentersville house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a specialist like Controlled Comfort HVAC about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

  • 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 might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated 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 solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches 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. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

In place of having to drag 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 produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating properly. This job allows our techs to pinpoint troubles before they start, 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 should be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Controlled Comfort HVAC Experts

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 224-412-8308 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.