If you’re unsure whether your Marshalltown home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest talking with a specialist like Kapaun & Brown about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by common household things.

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

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they may 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 space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed 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 dangerous 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 musty indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC 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 a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large concentrations.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running like it should. This work allows our technicians to pinpoint problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Kapaun & Brown Professionals

Aware that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 641-812-2028 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the best option for your family and budget.