If you’re unsure whether your Moline residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

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

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary origins of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we advise talking with a professional like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from regular household items.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these fumes accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

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

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running properly. This work allows our technicians to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Freed Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 309-323-9584 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the ideal solution for your family and budget.