If you’re uncertain whether your Palm Coast house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a expert like Cooks Air Conditioning and Heating Specialists about which products are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released 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 chemicals accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

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

Lasting Odors

Modern houses are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out harmful 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 replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which kind is best for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

Instead of 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’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large levels.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running like it should. This work allows our specialists to see 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 every floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Cooks Air Conditioning and Heating Specialists Pros

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 386-313-8766 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your home and budget.