If you’re uncertain whether your Bartlesville residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re indoors 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 may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend chatting with a professional like Farris Heating & Air about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors released by regular household products.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help odors disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

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

Lasting Odors

Modern homes are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our pros 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 equipment.

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working like it should. This work allows our specialists to spot problems before they get bigger, 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 need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living spaces.

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

Aware that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 918-333-0376 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best solution for your home and budget.