If you’re unsure whether your Muskogee home has unhealthy 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 could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a professional like Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by everyday household things.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to clean indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out 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 system. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

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

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out damaging 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 pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling unit.

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It creates a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large concentrations.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running smoothly. This work allows our professionals to pinpoint troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Hix Air Conditioning Service, Inc. Experts

Aware that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 918-682-8238 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your home and budget.