If you’re uncertain whether your Kankakee house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside 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 may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior 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 advise chatting with a specialist like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating about which options are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from 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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 outside.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Unlatching a window can help odors dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is right for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory symptoms.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers even humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces a severe health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in large levels.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working smoothly. This work allows our specialists to pinpoint troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on each floor close to bedrooms and living rooms.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating Pros

Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 815-933-8213 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your family and budget.