If you’re unsure whether your Magnolia house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent causes of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest talking with a expert like JTech Mechanical about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by regular household things.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running properly. This job allows our technicians to discover troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the JTech Mechanical Pros

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 281-231-8768 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you locate the best option for your home and budget.