If you’re uncertain whether your Carson City residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of inferior 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 residence, we recommend talking with a specialist like Anderson Heating & A/C about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common household products.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which type is ideal for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It presents an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in large levels.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running like it should. This job allows our techs to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Anderson Heating & A/C Pros

Informed that your residence has bad 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 775-854-9700 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal equipment for your family and budget.