If you’re unsure whether your Des Moines home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building 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 could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a professional like Heartland Heating & Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by common household things.

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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to 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 higher than the air outside.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

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

Lasting Odors

Modern houses 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 since your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

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 break down dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is right for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort equipment.

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers balanced humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a severe health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy levels.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working smoothly. This service allows our techs to find troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your House’s Air Quality with the Heartland Heating & Cooling Professionals

Informed that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 515-344-3579 or contact us online now. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you locate the ideal option for your home and budget.