If you’re questioning whether your Naples house has poor 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 residences could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the issues they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a pro like Speedy Air Conditioning about which options are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors leaked by regular 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 inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might also result in 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 higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous 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 takes out stale indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is ideal for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Rather than 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 little levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in big concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working properly. This job allows our professionals to pinpoint issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Speedy Air Conditioning Specialists

Know that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our kind HVAC professionals a call at 239-244-3439 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the right option for your home and budget.