If you’re uncertain whether your Buellton house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise talking with a expert like Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers consistent humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a severe health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in big concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is operating like it should. This work allows our technicians to see troubles 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 must be on all floors by bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning Experts

Aware that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 805-242-9638 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the best solution for your home and budget.