What Should I Do if I Have Bad Air Quality?

If you’re questioning whether your Portland house has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly 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 contaminated than outdoors, which may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Poor IAQ

We’ve made a list of the most frequent origins of bad IAQ, the troubles they create and how you can remedy these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your home, we advise consulting with a pro like Three Rivers Heating and Cooling about which products are best for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

They’re found in paint and stains along with:

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Opening a window can help fumes disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also better your air. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When hunting for one, 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 continuously gets moved by your home’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and buy an improved air filter, an air filtration system could be a better match.

This solution hooks to your HVAC equipment to deliver mighty filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

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

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t an option, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.

An air purification system is put in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate damaging 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 takes out musty indoor air and substitutes it with crisp outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which type is ideal for your house.

Unsteady Humidity

It’s essential your house’s humidity remains even. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.

Our specialists 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 unit.

Rather than 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’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It produces an extreme health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like sickness like headaches and nausea. It may be lethal in heavy amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your unit is running smoothly. This work allows our specialists to find problems before they begin, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Three Rivers Heating and Cooling Experts

Know that your residence has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which option is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at (503) 739-5400 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you locate the ideal equipment for your family and budget.