If you’re uncertain whether your Saint Louis residence has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

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

Most Common Sources of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of poor IAQ, the problems they make and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a pro like Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating about which options are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

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

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also make it better. This system partners with your heating and cooling unit to freshen indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eradicate 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 house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

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

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in less fresh air. Since keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they get released again. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to break down damaging VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of 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 units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which solution is best for your house.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our experts suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, 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 solution delivers consistent 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 causes an extreme health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be deadly in large concentrations.

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

The best approach to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to put in detectors. These alarms should be on each floor by bedrooms and living rooms.

Improve Your House’s Air Quality with the Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating Professionals

Informed that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which solution is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 314-262-4541 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you find the best option for your home and budget.