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

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

Most Common Causes of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your home, we suggest chatting with a professional like Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by everyday household things.

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 might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to eliminate harmful VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which type is ideal for your residence.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity keeps even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

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

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers even humidity around your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be fatal in large concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is working properly. This job allows our pros to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best method to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on each floor near bedrooms and living areas.

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 204-272-8128 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs and budget.