If you’re questioning whether your Fort Lauderdale home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We spend much of our time indoors. In fact, we’re indoors up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences may be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Solar Air Inc. about which options are a good fit for your house.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from common 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 inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disperse more rapidly.
Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.
This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types provide hospital-grade filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can stick around longer because your house is taking in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our technicians for more details on which type is ideal for your home.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s important your residence’s humidity remains balanced. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory troubles.
Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over buying a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution gives balanced humidity across your residence.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is gas you can’t see or smell. It occurs when there’s incomplete combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It presents a severe health risk. In low amounts, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in big levels.
We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running properly. This job allows our specialists to pinpoint troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on each floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Solar Air Inc. Experts
Informed that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 954-320-7398 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs and budget.