If you’re unsure whether your Omaha house has bad indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.

We are indoors a lot. In 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 may create long-term health problems.

Most Common Sources of Bad IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most common origins of inferior IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can take care of these indoor air pollutants. If you’re troubled by the air inside your house, we recommend consulting with a pro like The Frazier Company about which products are a good fit for your house.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors 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 can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times higher than the air outdoors.

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

Air purification systems can also better your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to freshen indoor air. When seeking 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 continually gets redistributed by your residence’s comfort unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.

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

Persistent Odors

Modern residences are closely sealed to increase energy efficiency. While this is great for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Musty odors can stick around for a greater amount of time as your house is pulling in a smaller amount of fresh air. As keeping your windows open all year-round isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell better.

An air purification system is installed in your HVAC system to eliminate odors before they recirculate. Search for one with a carbon filter and the capability to break down 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 pulls out musty indoor air and exchanges it with clean outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your home.

Unsteady Humidity

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

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

Rather than having to drag a humidifier from room to room, this equipment 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 equipment, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents a severe health risk. In small levels, it can cause flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It can be lethal in large amounts.

We recommend regular furnace maintenance to ensure your system is operating properly. This service allows our pros to find troubles before they start, including malfunctions that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

The best way to keep your home free of carbon monoxide is to get detectors. These alarms need to be on every floor by bedrooms and living areas.

Enhance Your Home’s Air Quality with the The Frazier Company Professionals

Know that your house has inferior air quality but not sure how to make it better? Or unsure which product is a good fit for you? Give our friendly HVAC professionals a call at 402-628-0206 or contact us online today. With free estimates and pro assistance, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your needs and budget.