If you’re questioning whether your Fort Lauderdale home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.
We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ
We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we advise chatting with a expert like Solar Air Inc. about which options are best for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular household things.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate in your home, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.
Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When looking for one, 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 residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.
This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to give mighty filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Lingering Odors
Newer houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.
An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which type is right for your house.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.
Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.
Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It causes an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in heavy amounts.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running properly. This job allows our technicians to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor by bedrooms and living spaces.
Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Solar Air Inc. Specialists
Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 954-320-7398 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the best solution for your home and budget.