If you’re uncertain whether your Newark house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a pro like Luikart Heating & Cooling about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When looking for 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 redistributed by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to give strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced 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 eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which solution is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

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

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent 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 produces a severe health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in big levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running properly. This service allows our technicians to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Luikart Heating & Cooling Professionals

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 740-200-5591 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your needs and budget.