If you’re questioning whether your Kearney residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re indoors 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 can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend consulting with a professional like Thurston Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common 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 may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful 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 pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 causes a serious health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in large amounts.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working properly. This service allows our technicians to spot problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

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

Aware that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 308-624-3485 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.