If you’re uncertain whether your Kankakee residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors 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 concerns.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating about which solutions are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household things.

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

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

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

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

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate 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 house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

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

Lasting Odors

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

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale 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 details on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in large concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running smoothly. This service allows our technicians to spot troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating Experts

Aware that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 815-933-8213 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your family and budget.