If you’re unsure whether your Norco and surrounding parishes house has bad 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a pro like Mayeuxs AC & Heating about which options are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from common household items.

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 might 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 chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside your home.

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

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit 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 trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Newer residences are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It creates a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in large amounts.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your unit is working like it should. This service allows our techs to find problems before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Mayeuxs AC & Heating Professionals

Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at (985) 764-2426 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you choose the best option for your needs and budget.