If you’re uncertain whether your Marshalltown home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common causes of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend consulting with a professional like Kapaun & Brown about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from regular 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 in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to 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 outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household 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 fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity throughout 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 symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in large levels.

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is running smoothly. This job allows our technicians to find troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Kapaun & Brown Pros

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 641-812-2028 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your family and budget.