If you’re questioning whether your Ames house 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 homes could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent causes of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a pro like Haselhoff Air Solutions about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by common household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help odors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 presents a serious health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in heavy concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your equipment is operating smoothly. This work allows our technicians to spot problems before they get bigger, 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 must be on all floors by bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Haselhoff Air Solutions Pros

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC specialists a call at 515-450-8739 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the best option for your home and budget.