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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, 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 worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a pro like Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common household items.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

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

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

Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer houses are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

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

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

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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 comfort unit.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working properly. This service allows our specialists to discover troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 432-237-0168 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your family and budget.