If you’re questioning whether your Lawrence residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we advise chatting with a pro like Scott Temperature about which options are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household products.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer residences are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which solution is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big levels.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating like it should. This service allows our specialists to discover problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on all floors close to bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Scott Temperature Experts

Know that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 785-269-0465 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your needs and budget.