If you’re questioning whether your Chelan and Wenatchee house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we suggest consulting with a specialist like Lakeside Heating & Air about which options are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors 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 chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 greater 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 better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more frequently 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 provide mighty filtration. Some types provide hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These systems 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 removes stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which kind is right for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.

Our experts suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It causes an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big amounts.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working properly. This work allows our professionals to discover troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Lakeside Heating & Air Pros

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 509-284-4265 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you find the right option for your family and budget.