If you’re unsure whether your York residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common sources of inferior 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 suggest chatting with a specialist like Strine's about which products are best for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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

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

When these fumes accumulate in your home, they may 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 higher than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your comfort equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your heating and cooling costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out musty indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which type is right for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory issues.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent 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 units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses a serious health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running like it should. This service allows our specialists to see problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Strine's Specialists

Aware that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our friendly HVAC pros a call at 717-383-4479 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you locate the best equipment for your family and budget.