If you’re questioning whether your Columbia residence has unhealthy 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 homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a professional like Watts Electric & AC about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular 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 might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to break down harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which type is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity around 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 small levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in big levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working smoothly. This job allows our pros to pinpoint problems 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 get detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Watts Electric & AC Experts

Know that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 601-736-7362 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your home and budget.