If you’re uncertain whether your Hudsonville home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a pro like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because 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 put in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a serious health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big amounts.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating smoothly. This service allows our technicians to see problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on each floor near bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services Experts

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at (616) 319-1436 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your family and budget.