If you’re unsure whether your Wausau residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re indoors 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 may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we advise talking with a professional like Gilray Heating and Cooling about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

  • 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 may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help chemicals dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When seeking one, ensure it’s specifically designed to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in less fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more details on which kind is best for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our pros suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours steady, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

In place of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity across 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 an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is running like it should. This job allows our techs to pinpoint troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Gilray Heating and Cooling Specialists

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 715-301-0727 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you choose the right option for your home and budget.