If you’re uncertain whether your Mount Pleasant residence has bad 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 worse than outdoors, which may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a expert like Olde Towne Heating & Air about which options are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from regular household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

  • 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 result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these pollutants can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

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

Lasting Odors

New homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous VOCs. These systems can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

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

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

Carbon Monoxide

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

It presents an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy amounts.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working smoothly. This service allows our techs to see issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Olde Towne Heating & Air Professionals

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 843-485-0967 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you find the right equipment for your home and budget.