If you’re unsure whether your Moline house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

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

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a specialist like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help vapors disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to give strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

In place of having to lug 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 occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working smoothly. This work allows our techs to spot issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Freed Heating & Air Conditioning Pros

Aware that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 309-323-9584 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best solution for your family and budget.