If you’re questioning whether your Fort Lauderdale 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we advise consulting with a specialist like Solar Air Inc. about which solutions are ideal for your home.

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 fumes accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in 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.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help fumes disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down 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 stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy amounts.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running properly. This work allows our pros to pinpoint issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on every floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Solar Air Inc. Experts

Aware that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 954-320-7398 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your needs and budget.