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

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a expert like Brookwood Inc about which products are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household products.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate in your home, they can 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 adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking 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 freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

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

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is right for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

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

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

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

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating properly. This service allows our professionals to spot problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Brookwood Inc Experts

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 641-316-9803 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your home and budget.