If you’re questioning whether your Bend home has unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In reality, we’re inside 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 may create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most ordinary causes of poor IAQ, the problems they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we suggest chatting with a specialist like Tri County Climate Control LLC about which products are ideal for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released by regular 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 inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times greater than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also make it better. This unit partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When hunting for a model, ensure it’s specifically designed to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can trigger health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets moved by your residence’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more frequently and get 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 kinds offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

Newer residences are securely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stale odors can hang around for a greater amount of time since your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is placed in your ducts to neutralize odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to eliminate damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is ideal for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

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

Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, think over getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your HVAC unit.

In place of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this solution delivers even humidity across your house.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s a byproduct of insufficient combustion in fuel-burning units, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It causes a serious health risk. In small levels, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be deadly in heavy concentrations.

We advise annual furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is working properly. This job allows our specialists to see troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.

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

Improve Your Home’s Air Quality with the Tri County Climate Control LLC Specialists

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is ideal for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 541-238-2797 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and professional assistance, we’ll help you find the best equipment for your family and budget.