If you’re unsure whether your Northglenn house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside 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 polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a specialist like Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

  • 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 can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

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

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

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

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which solution is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working smoothly. This service allows our techs to spot issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 303-452-4146 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the right equipment for your needs and budget.