If you’re questioning whether your Albuquerque home has bad 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 Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common sources of poor IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a pro like I-Deal HVAC about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 higher than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in big concentrations.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working smoothly. This service allows our specialists to see problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the I-Deal HVAC Specialists

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 505-445-1250 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your family and budget.