If you’re uncertain whether your New Castle house has poor 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 worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent origins of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a specialist like Central Heating & Plumbing about which products are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by everyday household items.

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

  • Furniture
  • Carpet
  • Building materials
  • Cleaning products
  • Cosmetics
  • Air fresheners
  • Candles

When these fumes accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced 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 a severe health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running properly. This work allows our specialists to see issues before they start, 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 should be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Central Heating & Plumbing Professionals

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 724-401-1843 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the right equipment for your family and budget.