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

We are indoors a lot. As a matter of 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 contaminated than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequent origins of poor IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a professional like Gilray Heating and Cooling about which products are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by everyday household things.

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

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

When these chemicals accumulate in your home, they can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home 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.

Always use the manufacturer’s guidelines when painting or cleaning. Unlatching a window can help vapors disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This unit partners with your heating and cooling unit to enhance indoor air. When seeking a system, ensure it’s specifically designed to wipe out VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can irritate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more routinely and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This equipment hooks to your comfort equipment to give mighty filtration. Some kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

Newer homes are securely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility bill, it’s not very good for your IAQ.

Stale 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 a possibility, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your ducts to wipe out odors before they get released again. Find one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your household healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two kinds of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which solution is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for top comfort. To keep yours even, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC equipment.

In place of 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 occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be fatal in heavy concentrations.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your system is running smoothly. This work allows our technicians to discover troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Enhance Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Gilray Heating and Cooling Pros

Know that your house has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our approachable HVAC professionals a call at 715-301-0727 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the right option for your needs and budget.