If you’re unsure whether your Mason City house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a expert like Mechanical Air Systems Co about which options are best for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 redistributed by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
Newer residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.
Uneven Humidity
It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.
In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 presents a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy concentrations.
We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working smoothly. This job allows our technicians to discover troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Mechanical Air Systems Co Professionals
Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 641-243-4654 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your needs and budget.