If you’re unsure whether your Middletown residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes 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 advise chatting with a expert like SchagrinGAS Company about which options are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household products.

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

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

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

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out 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 unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary 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 equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which type is right for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our techs to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the SchagrinGAS Company Professionals

Aware that your house has poor 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 302-231-1380 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.