If you’re unsure whether your Buellton house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of poor IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest talking with a pro like Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors 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 chemicals accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside.

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

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

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

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our technicians suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It presents a severe health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running smoothly. This work allows our techs to see problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

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

Aware that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 805-242-9638 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the best option for your needs and budget.