If you’re unsure whether your Milledgeville and Middle Georgia residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we advise talking with a specialist like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia about which products are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Opening a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to improve indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically made 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 residence’s comfort equipment. 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 heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer residences are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power 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 stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s critical your residence’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.

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

Rather than having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this solution 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running smoothly. This work allows our professionals to find issues 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 must be on all floors close to bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Air Concepts of Middle Georgia Experts

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 478-200-5689 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you locate the ideal solution for your needs and budget.