If you’re unsure whether your Manassas residence 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 homes could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the problems they create and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a pro like Fire & Ice HVAC about which options are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these chemicals accumulate indoors, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also create 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 use the manufacturer’s instructions when using paint or cleaning supplies. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse 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 created 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 recirculated by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better solution.

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

Lasting Odors

New residences are tightly sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is good for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can hang around for a greater amount of time as your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open throughout the year isn’t an option, here are two ways 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. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out harmful VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more information on which solution is ideal for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

It’s important your residence’s humidity keeps even. Air that’s too moist can create mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

Our pros suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider 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 solution delivers balanced humidity throughout your house.

Carbon Monoxide

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

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like ailments like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in big concentrations.

We recommend annual furnace maintenance to ensure your equipment is running properly. This job allows our pros to pinpoint problems before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Fire & Ice HVAC Pros

Informed that your home has poor air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 703-595-4157 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional service, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your family and budget.