If you’re uncertain whether your New Castle home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the problems they create 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 pro like Central Heating & Plumbing about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by 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 indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help fumes disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

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

Lingering Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

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

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which type is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is operating like it should. This work allows our specialists to spot problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on each floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Central Heating & Plumbing Pros

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 724-401-1843 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your home and budget.