If you’re uncertain whether your Des Moines residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 more polluted than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent origins of poor IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we recommend talking with a specialist like Heartland Heating & Cooling about which products are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these fumes accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When seeking one, 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 continually gets recirculated by your home’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Modern residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and common 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 systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is best for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort system.

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces a severe health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our professionals to discover issues 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 put in detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Heartland Heating & Cooling Specialists

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 515-344-3579 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the best solution for your needs and budget.