If you’re questioning whether your Pacheco house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the problems they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Clean Air HVAC about which products are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by everyday household items.

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

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help vapors disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in heavy levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is running like it should. This job allows our professionals to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor close to bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Clean Air HVAC Specialists

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 925-233-6238 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you find the right option for your family and budget.