If you’re questioning whether your Odessa house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 houses could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend talking with a specialist like Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household products.

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

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help vapors dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for a system, ensure it’s specifically made to eradicate 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 residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your home is pulling in less 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 better.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate dangerous 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 removes musty indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which solution is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

Instead of having to drag 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 causes a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running like it should. This service allows our pros to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 432-237-0168 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your home and budget.