If you’re uncertain whether your Bishop home has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it probably does.

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of fact, we’re inside 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 can create long-term health issues.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we advise talking with a professional like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released by common household products.

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

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Cracking a window can help odors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to clean indoor air. When seeking one, 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 redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better fit.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide mighty filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lasting Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling costs, 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 reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is installed in your ductwork to neutralize odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with crisp outdoor air. There are two models of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is best for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

Instead of having to lug 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 occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It poses a severe health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large concentrations.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to double-check your system is operating like it should. This job allows our technicians to find issues before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on all floors near bedrooms and living rooms.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning Specialists

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 760-784-9034 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you locate the right solution for your needs and budget.