If you’re questioning whether your Phoenix house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably 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 houses could be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we suggest chatting with a expert like Integrity AC & Heating LLC about which products are a good fit for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from 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 fumes accumulate indoors, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets moved by your house’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some kinds provide hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New houses are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility expenses, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they recirculate. 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 musty indoor air and replaces it with clean outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which type is right for your home.

Uneven Humidity

It’s critical your home’s humidity stays even. Air that’s too moist can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.

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

Instead of having to lug a humidifier from room to room, this product delivers balanced 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 produces a serious health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in big concentrations.

We advise regular furnace maintenance to make sure your system is operating properly. This job allows our professionals to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms should be on all floors close to bedrooms and living areas.

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Integrity AC & Heating LLC Professionals

Aware that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC experts a call at 602-971-0567 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert assistance, we’ll help you locate the right equipment for your needs and budget.