If you’re uncertain whether your Des Moines home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 worse than outdoors, which might create long-term health problems.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary sources of inferior IAQ, the issues they make and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we recommend chatting with a professional like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling about which options are best for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by regular household products.

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these fumes accumulate indoors, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial area, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outside.

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

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

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets moved by your home’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to deliver strong filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Musty odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your residence is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t a possibility, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ducts to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common 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 units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can lead to mold, while dry air can cause respiratory concerns.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment delivers consistent humidity throughout 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 presents an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in big levels.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is working properly. This service allows our specialists to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling Specialists

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which option is best for you? Give our kind HVAC experts a call at 515-207-6569 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you choose the right solution for your family and budget.