If you’re unsure whether your Thousand Palms residence has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely 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 homes could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which can create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of poor IAQ, the troubles they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re concerned about the air inside your residence, we suggest consulting with a specialist like Marios Air Conditioning about which solutions are ideal for your family.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes leaked by regular household products.

They’re found in paint and stains as well as:

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

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

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors disperse faster.

Air purification systems can also help. This unit partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When looking for a system, ensure it’s specifically created to eliminate VOCs.

Dust and Pet Dander

Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it continuously gets redistributed by your house’s comfort system. While you can vacuum more regularly and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

This unit hooks to your comfort equipment to provide strong filtration. Some types offer hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Lingering Odors

New homes are closely sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is good for your energy bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time as your residence 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 placed in your ductwork to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the power to eliminate dangerous VOCs. This equipment can also help keep your family healthy by eliminating most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system removes stale indoor air and substitutes it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of units (heat recovery and energy recovery), so ask our professionals for more information on which solution is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s essential your home’s humidity remains even. Air that’s too moist can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory concerns.

Our professionals suggest 40–50% for ideal comfort. To keep yours in balance, think about getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your heating and cooling system.

Instead of having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this product 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a serious health risk. In low levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It could be lethal in large levels.

We suggest regular furnace maintenance to double-check your equipment is operating like it should. This work allows our technicians to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can cause carbon monoxide leaks.

The best approach to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms should be on all floors by bedrooms and living spaces.

Enhance Your House’s Air Quality with the Marios Air Conditioning Pros

Know that your home has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is best for you? Give our kind HVAC specialists a call at 760-314-4766 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert service, we’ll help you locate the right solution for your family and budget.