If you’re questioning whether your Albuquerque house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We spend much of our time indoors. 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 houses may be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which can lead to long-term health problems.
Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of bad 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 home, we recommend consulting with a professional like I-Deal HVAC about which solutions are best for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help fumes dissipate more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When looking for a system, check that it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your house’s HVAC equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.
This equipment works with your heating and cooling system to deliver strong filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stay around longer because your house is taking in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our pros for more info on which solution is ideal for your home.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your home’s humidity keeps balanced. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory troubles.
Our techs recommend 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about buying a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.
In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution gives even humidity around your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of unfinished combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It creates a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working properly. This service allows our specialists to find issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor near bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the I-Deal HVAC Pros
Informed that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 505-445-1250 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your family and budget.