If you’re questioning whether your York residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common causes of bad IAQ, the troubles they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a expert like Strine's about which options are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals emitted from everyday household things.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they may 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 chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling equipment to freshen indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically created to wipe out 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 residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This equipment hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t a possibility, 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. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which kind is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

Our techs suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

Instead of having to pull 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 appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in heavy concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is operating like it should. This work allows our professionals to discover issues before they begin, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Strine's Professionals

Aware that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 717-383-4479 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional support, we’ll help you find the ideal solution for your needs and budget.