If you’re unsure whether your South Beloit and Belvidere home has unhealthy 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a expert like Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by regular household things.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate 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 unit. While you can vacuum more routinely 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 deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern houses are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to break down dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is operating properly. This service allows our pros to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Experts

Informed that your home has bad 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 877-389-2465 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your needs and budget.