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

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a pro like Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by 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 vapors accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause 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 guidelines when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your house’s comfort system. 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 heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year 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. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

Instead of having to drag 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 a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a severe health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in large levels.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working properly. This work allows our professionals to find issues before they begin, 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 need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals

Know that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 303-452-4146 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.