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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary origins of inferior IAQ, the problems they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we recommend consulting with a expert like Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning about which solutions are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by everyday household items.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

When these chemicals accumulate inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to clean indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

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

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

Lingering Odors

Newer residences are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. These systems can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which kind is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

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

In place of having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers balanced 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 creates a serious health risk. In little levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is working properly. This service allows our techs to discover troubles before they begin, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

Know that your house has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 204-272-8128 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your family and budget.