If you’re unsure whether your Cottonwood & Prescott home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the problems 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 pro like Connolly Electric & Mechanical about which products are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might 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 location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

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

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your system is running smoothly. This job allows our techs to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Connolly Electric & Mechanical Experts

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 928-251-4327 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.