If you’re questioning whether your Carson City home has unhealthy 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 residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a specialist like Anderson Heating & A/C about which options are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home 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 outside your home.

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

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory troubles.

Our professionals 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 comfort system.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even 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 an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running like it should. This job allows our professionals to spot problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor by bedrooms and living areas.

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

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 775-230-7628 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.