If you’re uncertain whether your Lincoln residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of poor IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a pro like AW Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by 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 fumes accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may 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 pollutants can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate 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 get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New houses are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look 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 common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in heavy levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is running properly. This job allows our techs to see problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the AW Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals

Aware that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.