If you’re unsure whether your Lincoln home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.
Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the problems they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a specialist like AW Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are a good fit for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by common household items.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these fumes accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 outside.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help fumes disperse faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets recirculated by your house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.
This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.
An air purification system is installed in your ducts 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 loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your house.
Unsteady Humidity
It’s critical your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.
Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.
Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent 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 poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large amounts.
We advise annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating smoothly. This work allows our specialists to discover issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors close to bedrooms and living rooms.
Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the AW Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists
Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 402-438-7992 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the ideal option for your needs and budget.