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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building 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 could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a expert like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services about which options are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from 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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

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

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even 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 cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in large concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating like it should. This job allows our techs to find problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services Experts

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at (616) 319-1436 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your home and budget.