If you’re questioning whether your Winnipeg house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.
We spend a lot of time inside. 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 worse than outdoors, which could result in long-term health issues.
Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most ordinary sources of bad IAQ, the issues they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning about which options are best for your home.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by regular household items.
They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these vapors collect indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They might 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 adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help odors disappear faster.
Air purification systems can also improve your air. This equipment collaborates with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When seeking a model, ensure it’s specifically made to wipe out VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.
This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some models have hospital-grade filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.
Lasting Odors
New houses are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.
Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time because your house is taking in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is installed in your ducts to eliminate odors before they are redistributed. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability 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 stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our pros for more info on which kind is ideal for your residence.
Uneven Humidity
It’s important your residence’s humidity remains steady. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory symptoms.
Our specialists advise 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, consider installing a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC system.
Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment provides balanced humidity throughout your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It causes an extreme health risk. In small amounts, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large amounts.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running properly. This job allows our pros to spot issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.
The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.
Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning Professionals
Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is ideal for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 204-272-8128 or contact us online now. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you find the right option for your needs and budget.