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

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the problems they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we recommend consulting with a expert like Smyth Air Conditioning about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by common household items.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which type is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

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

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy amounts.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working smoothly. This work allows our techs to find troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Smyth Air Conditioning Professionals

Know that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 561-533-6066 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your family and budget.