If you’re questioning whether your Pella house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a professional like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating about which options are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also lead to 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 outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking 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 constantly gets moved by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your HVAC equipment to provide strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our specialists 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.

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in big concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working properly. This job allows our professionals to discover issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

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

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 641-628-3621 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the right option for your family and budget.