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

We are indoors a lot. In reality, 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 worse than outdoors, which may create long-term health issues.

Most Common Causes of Unsatisfactory IAQ

We’ve put together a list of the most frequent origins of poor IAQ, the issues they create and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your home, we suggest consulting with a expert like Airmax Long Island about which options are a good fit for your home.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals leaked by common household items.

They’re found in paint and stains in addition to:

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

When these fumes accumulate inside, they may irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They may also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your residence is in a rural or industrial space, an EPA study found indoor levels of these fumes can be 2–5 times worse than the air outdoors.

Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions when applying paint or spraying cleaning products. Unlatching a window can help chemicals disappear faster.

Air purification systems can also improve your air. This system partners with your heating and cooling system to enhance indoor air. When looking for a model, ensure it’s specifically created 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 house’s comfort equipment. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an improved air filter, an air filtration system might be a better match.

This unit hooks to your heating and cooling equipment to provide powerful filtration. Some kinds have hospital-level filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.

Persistent Odors

New homes are tightly sealed to enhance energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your utility costs, it’s not so good for your IAQ.

Stuffy odors can stay around for a greater amount of time since your home is pulling in reduced fresh air. Because keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two approaches you can make your indoor air smell cleaner.

An air purification system is put in your ductwork to eliminate odors before they get released again. Look for one with a carbon filter and the capability to wipe out dangerous VOCs. These units can also help keep your loved ones healthy by wiping out most bacteria and common allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.

A ventilation system takes out stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. There are two types of systems (heat recovery and energy recovery), so call our professionals for more details on which type is best for your house.

Uneven Humidity

It’s important your home’s humidity stays even. Air that has too much moisture can cause mold, while dry air can cause respiratory troubles.

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

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

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless gas you can’t smell. It occurs when there’s insufficient combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.

It presents an extreme health risk. In little levels, it can create flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be fatal in large concentrations.

We suggest annual furnace maintenance to ensure your system is working like it should. This service allows our specialists to discover troubles before they get bigger, including malfunctions that can lead to 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 near bedrooms and living spaces.

Improve Your Residence’s Air Quality with the Airmax Long Island Experts

Informed that your home has bad air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which option is right for you? Give our friendly HVAC experts a call at 631-737-5566 or contact us online right away. With free estimates and pro support, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your needs and budget.