If you’re questioning whether your Temple/Belton house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we recommend consulting with a professional like Bell Air Conditioning Inc about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular 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 can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

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

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working properly. This work allows our technicians to spot troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Bell Air Conditioning Inc Pros

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 254-307-9572 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your needs and budget.