If you’re questioning whether your Milledgeville and Middle Georgia home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we advise consulting with a expert like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia about which options are best 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 fumes accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial location, 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 instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer houses are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which kind is best for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your house’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity around 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 poses a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large amounts.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running properly. This work allows our technicians to see troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Air Concepts of Middle Georgia Professionals

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 478-200-5689 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the right option for your home and budget.