If you’re questioning whether your Pella home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside 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 contaminated than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we advise consulting with a expert like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating about which options are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household products.

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

  • 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 cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When hunting for a system, 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 constantly gets moved by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New homes are closely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to neutralize odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and replaces it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in big levels.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is operating properly. This service allows our techs to discover issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on each floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating Professionals

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 641-628-3621 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your needs and budget.