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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common origins of bad IAQ, the issues they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a pro like Air Concepts of Middle Georgia about which options are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes 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 chemicals accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may 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 higher than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets redistributed by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

New houses are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which type is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

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

We recommend yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working like it should. This job allows our pros to find troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on every floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Air Concepts of Middle Georgia Experts

Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 478-200-5689 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you find the right option for your family and budget.