If you’re unsure whether your Lake Worth house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

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

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary origins of poor IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a pro like Smyth Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by everyday household things.

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 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 location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down harmful 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 pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which type is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by 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 cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in big levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating properly. This service allows our pros to spot problems before they begin, 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 must be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Smyth Air Conditioning Experts

Informed that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 561-533-6066 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your home and budget.