If you’re questioning whether your Saint Louis home 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 houses could be 2–5 times more polluted than outdoors, which might create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of inferior IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we recommend consulting with a expert like Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

When these vapors accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may 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 chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help fumes dissipate faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continually gets recirculated by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more regularly and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system may be a better fit.

This solution hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide strong filtration. Some models provide hospital-level filtration for removing particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New homes are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your energy bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stale odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your residence is pulling in less fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two methods you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Find one with a carbon filter and the power to wipe out damaging VOCs. These systems can also help keep your loved ones healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system pulls out stuffy indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more details on which solution is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too humid can create mold, while dry air can cause respiratory issues.

Our specialists suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours in balance, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling equipment.

In place 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 presents a serious health risk. In small levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy concentrations.

We advise yearly furnace maintenance to make sure your system is working smoothly. This job allows our professionals to pinpoint issues before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the Morgner Inc. Air Conditioning & Heating Pros

Know that your residence has bad air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is right for you? Give our approachable HVAC pros a call at 314-262-4541 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the ideal equipment for your needs and budget.