If you’re uncertain whether your Pflugerville residence has unhealthy 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 residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest chatting with a professional like Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, 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 area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help vapors disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to give strong filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more info on which solution is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory concerns.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Rather than having to pull 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 an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large levels.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running smoothly. This job allows our techs to discover troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 512-355-1482 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.