If you’re questioning whether your Greater Richmond residence has unhealthy 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a expert like Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling about which solutions are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by everyday household things.

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

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

When these fumes accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 outside.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically created 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 unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

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

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

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

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top 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 lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity around 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 poses an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running properly. This job allows our professionals to find problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Herman Allen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Specialists

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 804-302-6657 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.