If you’re questioning whether your Port Clinton home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise talking with a expert like Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. about which solutions are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by common household products.
They’re found in paint and stains as well as:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help chemicals disappear faster.
Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.
This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house 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 cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your ducts to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your residence.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s important your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.
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.
Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It produces a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy amounts.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running like it should. This service allows our technicians to discover problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors close to bedrooms and living areas.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. Pros
Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 419-465-8722 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the right equipment for your needs and budget.