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

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside 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 can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent origins 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 home, we suggest consulting with a professional like Pliescott HVAC Services LLC about which options are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by regular household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create 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 higher than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen 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 aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units 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 removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big amounts.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating properly. This work allows our technicians to discover troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Pliescott HVAC Services LLC Pros

Aware that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 410-228-4822 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your needs and budget.