If you’re uncertain whether your Hudsonville house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a expert like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services about which products are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate 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 residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give strong filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which type is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our pros 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 equipment.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity across 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 create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating like it should. This job allows our pros to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services Specialists

Aware that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at (616) 319-1436 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.