If you’re uncertain whether your Muldrow house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we suggest consulting with a professional like Air Service Co. about which products are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by everyday household things.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these vapors accumulate in your home, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can 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 worse than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to improve indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate 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 home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to give strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

In place of having to pull 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’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses a severe health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in heavy levels.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running like it should. This work allows our professionals to see problems 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 should be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Air Service Co. Professionals

Know 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 pros a call at 918-212-8943 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your home and budget.