If you’re uncertain whether your Chelan and Wenatchee home has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent sources of bad IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a pro like Lakeside Heating & Air about which solutions are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household items.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also create headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created 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 house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better match.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some types have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which type is best for your residence.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too humid can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory symptoms.

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

Instead of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even 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 poses an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in big amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running properly. This job allows our specialists to see problems before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms must be on every floor close to bedrooms and living spaces.

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

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