If you’re questioning whether your Moline house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise chatting with a expert like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in 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 greater than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When seeking a system, 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 redistributed by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. These systems 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 stuffy indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is best for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Instead 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’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in big amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating smoothly. This job allows our technicians to pinpoint troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on every floor by bedrooms and living spaces.

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

Informed that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 309-323-9584 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your family and budget.