If you’re unsure whether your Bishop residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, 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 more contaminated than outdoors, which could create long-term health problems.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most ordinary sources of poor IAQ, the problems they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a specialist like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning about which products are ideal for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes emitted from 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 fumes accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your house 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 outside your home.

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

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and get an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better solution.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some models offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Modern homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your energy costs, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your residence is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and ordinary allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two kinds of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is ideal for your residence.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can create respiratory troubles.

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

Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers consistent humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It poses a severe health risk. In little levels, it can lead to flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in heavy levels.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working properly. This service allows our techs to pinpoint troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your residence free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms must be on every floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

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

Know that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 760-784-9034 or contact us online today. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you choose the right option for your needs and budget.