If you’re uncertain whether your Rock Hill house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re in a building 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 Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent causes of poor IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we recommend chatting with a expert like US Air Heating and Cooling about which solutions are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create 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 greater than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

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

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your household healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.

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

It creates a severe health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working properly. This work allows our technicians to discover issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the US Air Heating and Cooling Specialists

Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 803-220-0761 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the best equipment for your family and budget.