If you’re uncertain whether your Lake Worth residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a professional like Smyth Air Conditioning about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

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

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

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

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

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

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating properly. This service allows our technicians to spot troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

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

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 561-533-6066 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your home and budget.