If you’re unsure whether your Pacheco house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise talking with a specialist like Clean Air HVAC about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by regular household products.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in 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 greater than the air outdoors.

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

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which type is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running properly. This work allows our pros to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause 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 close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Clean Air HVAC Pros

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 925-233-6238 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the best option for your home and budget.