If you’re uncertain whether your Newton house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside 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 polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a pro like Brookwood Inc about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from everyday household items.

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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

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

Lingering Odors

Modern houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of 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 systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which kind is ideal for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

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

Rather than having to pull 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 occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in big levels.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our techs to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on every floor near bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Brookwood Inc Specialists

Know that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 641-316-9803 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.