If you’re unsure whether your Newark residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common origins of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a specialist like Luikart Heating & Cooling about which solutions are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

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

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

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen 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 continuously gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in heavy levels.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working like it should. This job allows our technicians to find troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Luikart Heating & Cooling Specialists

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 740-344-5497 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the ideal option for your family and budget.