If you’re questioning whether your Kearney home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a pro like Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these vapors 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 area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help chemicals disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting for a system, 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 constantly gets recirculated by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

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

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

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

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent 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 produces a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating like it should. This work allows our specialists to find problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 308-624-3485 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your needs and budget.