If you’re uncertain whether your Weatherford home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a pro like Parker County Cooling & Heating about which products are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from 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 chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units 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 musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is best for your house.

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 concerns.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in large levels.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating properly. This work allows our professionals to spot problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Parker County Cooling & Heating Pros

Aware that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 817-380-5213 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your needs and budget.