If you’re uncertain whether your Lodi residence has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it possibly does.

We are indoors a lot. In fact, we’re inside up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside residences could be 2–5 times worse than outdoors, which could create long-term health concerns.

Most Common Origins of Poor IAQ

We’ve compiled a list of the most common sources of inferior IAQ, the problems they make and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your house, we recommend talking with a expert like Tokay about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

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

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 may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also lead to headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence 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 adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Cracking a window can help vapors disappear faster.

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

Dust and Pet Dander

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

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to give powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for getting rid of particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

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

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

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to neutralize odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to break down damaging 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 stuffy indoor air and substitutes it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more information on which type is right for your home.

Unbalanced Humidity

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

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

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

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by insufficient combustion in fuel-burning equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

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

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to make sure your system is running properly. This work allows our professionals to discover troubles before they begin, 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 must be on all floors by bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Tokay Pros

Informed that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to enhance it? Or unsure which solution is best for you? Give our approachable HVAC specialists a call at 209-257-3156 or contact us online today. With free estimates and expert support, we’ll help you choose the ideal option for your needs and budget.